Program duration: 10/11/2011 - 31/10/2014

Development and Wide Dissemination of the General and Special National Dietary Guidelines – “EF Dia…Trofin”

The Institute of Preventive Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health, Prolepsis has implemented the ambitious project known as the National Dietary Guidelines ‘Ef Dia… Trofin’ which entails the solicitous development of appropriate content for the publication and adequate access to the general public.

The National Dietary Guidelines were issued during the context of their own production entitled: Creation and wide dissemination of general and specific National Dietary Guidelines ‘Ef Dia…Trofin’ with code MIS 346818, as part of the Operational Program “Human Resources Development” in 2007 – 2013. The production, under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, is co-financed by the European Social Fund as well as through other national resources.

The ‘Ef Dia…Trofin’ initiative was undertaken and executed by Prolepsis’ team of scientists in conjunction with many Greek and foreign specialist academics and professors, as well as other dedicated inpiduals in the Medical Schools of the University of Athens, Harokopio and the Agricultural University of Athens during the period of December 2011 until October of 2014.

The National Dietary Guidelines encompass:

  • The general public, such as healthy adults 18-65 years of age
  • Infants, children and teenagers 
  • Women (paying particular focus on pregnancy, breast feeding and menopause)
  • Inpiduals 65 years of age or older

More specifically, the project consists of eight separate volumes, two of which address the general public and academic community accordingly. The Guidelines, relative to their target audience – include an analytical presentation of specific information, rich in eye-catching material, charts and illustrations, spreading out to a plethora of pages in order to effectively cover the most important subjects.

Within the context of the project, over 6,500 issues of the Dietary Guidelines were produced, all of which – on the basis of our plan of dissemination – were sent to all official and relevant institutions which include Ministries, Public and Private Hospitals, Health Directorate Municipalities and Peripheries, Medical Associations and other relevant Academic bodies, A-level & B-level education institutions, all relevant departments of Tertiary Education institutions, Municipal public service establishments, elderly homes, and public libraries. Moreover and just as importantly, the entirety of the National Dietary Guidelines are available online at www.diatrofikoiodigoi.gr.

Taking into consideration the alarming data regarding the increasing obesity rate in Greece and the fact that many Greeks do not follow the traditional Greek diet anymore, the main objective of the Dietary Guidelines is to provide simple and evidence-based information about people’s needs for nutrients and food groups that should be consumed on a daily basis. Furthermore, a more specific aim of the project is the promotion of a healthy diet and as an extension of proper health, taking advantage of the traditional Greek diet in tandem with modern scientific information. In the field of public health, the Dietary Guidelines aspire to be a useful tool for academics and medical professionals alike and to contribute to the reduction of all incidences of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity as well as many others, either directly or indirectly related to food and eating habits.

It’s important to note that the National Dietary Guidelines (Greece, 2014) include all the latest nutritional recommendations, being completely up to date. As far as other dietary recommendations go, the most recent renditions excluding our own, are the Australian Dietary Guidelines (2013) and the Scandinavian, Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (2012). Finally, to be completed by autumn 2015 for its 8th edition is the Dietary Guidelines for Americans that is expected to replace the older, 2010 version.

Contact information

Dina Zota, PhD, Project coordinator: d.zota@prolepsis.gr

Services: Preventive Medicine

Relative links
http://www.diatrofikoiodigoi.gr