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Dear Colleagues and Friends,
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Obesity and body composition
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In this week's newsletter we will take a look at some elements of the Mediterranean diet that are becoming increasingly important. Gradually, research on this dietary pattern is evolving and going beyond food consumption. It is no longer just a preference for olive oil over other fats, but also a matter of sustainability and enjoyment. A recent narrative review expands on the cultural aspects related to the Mediterranean diet following its definition and designation as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. This review places special emphasis on commensality, a trait that is not exclusive to this dietary pattern but acquires deeper meaning and relevance for Mediterranean cultures where meals become a time for sharing and conviviality. Thus, “Family meals” is the term used to describe commensality in a small quantitative study. According to this group of experts, commensality was a composite measure of various factors, including the frequency of meals, meals eaten at the table, absence of digital distractions, pleasant conversations at the dinner table, and the time dedicated to family meals. Families that fulfilled all these and other social aspects were considered to have higher adherence to a Mediterranean pattern. Undoubtedly, this holistic view of the Mediterranean lifestyle will have greater repercussions in future studies.
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Among this week's reports, an original study demonstrates the effects of the Mediterranean lifestyle on cardiovascular health. These effects were studied with a 28-item Mediterranean lifestyle (MEDLIFE) score and information on more than 18,000 participants from a well-established Mediterranean cohort. Fifteen of these items refer to food consumption, including individual items for olive oil, nuts and olive consumption. Other aspects of this score include, 7 items for dietary habits, and 6 for physical activity, rest, social habits, and conviviality. The results of this article show a relative risk reduction of 50% for the highest MEDLIFE scores (14–23 points) compared to the lowest scores (0–9 points).
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Lastly, this holistic view of the Mediterranean diet was evaluated in a cross-sectional study on the modification of lifestyle habits during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Cyprus. Under lockdown, various lifestyle factors were adversely affected (stress score, social support score and sleep quality score), however the same cannot be said for the Mediterranean diet which increased significantly. These results were in line with a similar study conducted among students and employees at a Swiss University, which emphasized the importance of implementing group specific measures to improve lifestyle habits.
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