Mediterranean Diet Score Calculator (MEDAS 14-Item Test)

How it works

Score = number of the 14 MEDAS items met (1 point each, 0–14) · 0–5 low · 6–8 moderate · 9–14 good adherence (PREDIMED target ≥ 9)

The 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) was developed for the PREDIMED trial in Spain and validated against a full food-frequency questionnaire (Schröder et al., 2011). Each item — olive oil as the main fat, daily vegetables and fruit, weekly legumes, fish and nuts, little red meat, butter, sugary drinks and commercial pastries, white meat instead of red, and sofrito — scores one point. PREDIMED used a score of 9 or more as good adherence; the wine item is part of the original tool, but non-drinkers should never start drinking to gain a point.

Worked example

You score a point for olive oil as the main fat, vegetables, red meat, butter, sugary drinks, legumes, commercial sweets and white meat, but not for olive oil amount, fruit, wine, fish, nuts or sofrito: 8 points, so the MEDAS score is 8 / 14 — moderate adherence, one point short of the PREDIMED target of 9.

Sources: Schröder H et al. (2011) A short screener is valid for assessing Mediterranean diet adherence among older Spanish men and women. J Nutr 141(6):1140–1145 · Estruch R et al. (2018) Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with a Mediterranean diet (PREDIMED). N Engl J Med 378:e34

Frequently asked questions