Nutritional characteristics of a rural Southern Italy population: the Ventimiglia di Sicilia Project.

Objective: Knowledge of alimentary habits among populations permits a better definition of appropriate public health interventions. We designed the epidemiological project "Ventimiglia di Sicilia" to characterize the risk profile in a rural village with low total cholesterol levels and low early cardiovascular mortality but with a large prevalence of overweight and obesity, which previously have been significantly associated with total mortality.

Methods: 488 individuals of age 20 to 69 years were included in the dietary survey conducted by a seven-day food record.