Mediterranean high fat diet is better for weight loss, say boffins
It tops low-calorie diets for shedding the pounds
A MEDITERRANEAN diet high in healthy fats like olive oil is better for shedding flab than a low-fat regimen, say experts.
It leads to trimmer waistlines than focussing on counting calories, their study found.
It contradicts weight loss advice from many health organisations which recommend diets comprise no more than 30 per cent fat.
Now experts are calling for the “outdated” nutritional data to be binned in favour of eating meals rich in fish, nuts and healthy oils.
The study at the University of Barcelona followed 7,447 adults with type 2 diabetes for seven years.
Each was put on either a Mediterranean olive oil diet, a diet rich in nuts or a fat-free regimen.
The olive oil group lost most weight at 1.9lb, with low-fat volunteers shedding 1.3lb.
Study author Dr Ramon Estruch said: “More than 40 years of nutritional policy has advocated for a low-fat diet but we’re seeing little impact on rising levels of obesity.”
Dr Gunter Kuhnle, of Reading University, said: “It’s important to be clear this study does not suggest that if we ate more fat we wouldn’t gain weight.”
Numerous studies have shown a Med diet is linked to reduced mortality, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
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