Research

Mixed

Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet (MD) reduces central adiposity (waist circumference and visceral fat) and prevents weight gain, even when energy intake is unrestricted.

Adhere to a Mediterranean Diet pattern focusing on vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and olive oil. You do not need to strictly count calories or restrict fat intake to avoid weight gain and reduce belly fat, although combining it with exercise and caloric restriction yields the best weight loss results.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
In conclusion, high fat, unrestricted calories MD was associated with little weight changes and less central adiposity compared with low-fat diet long term [21]. ... Reassuringly, even when not energy-restricted it is not associated with weight gain in the short or long term.
Giovanna Muscogiuri et al. · Current Obesity Reports · 2022

Why this rating

Supported by large RCTs (PREDIMED) and multiple meta-analyses.

Source

Mediterranean Diet and Obesity-related Disorders: What is the Evidence?

Giovanna Muscogiuri et al. · Current Obesity Reports · 2022

narrative_reviewCited 187×
Read the paper

This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →