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.
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
DOI 10.1007/s13679-022-00481-1
narrative_reviewCited 187×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet reduces the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes by 19-30% and improves glycemic control (HbA1c) in existing patients.Strong
- Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet improves cardiovascular risk factors (lipids, blood pressure) and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease events in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.Strong
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