Mediterranean Diet Linked to Less Weight-Gain

People who follow a Mediterranean diet may avoid putting on extra weight as they age, suggests a new study.

The Mediterranean diet includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, grains, and moderate amounts of fish and wine, but very little saturated fats, like eggs, red meat, dairy products, and poultry.

Consuming a Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers asked 10,000 university graduates in Spain, men and women, average age of 38 years old, to fill out a food questionnaire. The participants were then tracked for six years.

Average weight gain among participants during the study was a half pound, but the participants most closely following a Mediterranean diet gained less weight, compared to individuals deviating from the diet.

Participants who stuck with the Mediterranean diet were 10% less likely to become overweight or obese and were 24% less likely to gain more than 11 pounds over the first four years of the study.

Traditionally, the Mediterranean diet is eaten in coastal nations like Italy, Crete, and Greece, but the spread of fast food and Western lifestyles has compromised the health and diet of many Mediterranean countries.