Over the last three months, Nicole and I have sailed over 1,500 miles across Greece. We have been awed by beautiful scenery, enjoyed the wholesome food, yet been surprised by high rates of obesity, not just in adults, but especially in young children.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) European office for prevention of noncommunicable diseases, Dr. Joao Breda, has said that the Mediterranean diet in Greece is dead and even Swedish children do a better job at following a Mediterranean diet.
Yes, there are awesome Mediterranean food options available, but far too many Greeks (like far too many Americans) have stopped eating them, especially children. A traditional Greek diet based on vegetables, fruits, beans, seafood, plain yogurt, red wine, and olive oil is being replaced by bread, French fries, sweets, candy, ice cream, and sugary drinks. And to stay trim and fit, this is what we should be eating as well.
Not only have the Greeks changed what they eat, but their activity levels have plummeted as well, which is the same trend we are seeing in the United States.
Although adult Greek obesity rates remain lower than in the US for the moment (US adult obesity rates are 38-39% versus 24-25% in Greece), there is a substantial increase in recent years and much higher than other nearby countries that do better at following a Mediterranean diet, such as France, Italy, and Spain.
In Greece, the biggest concern is the change in rates of overweight and obesity rates in children. Unfortunately, the US has also been seeing an increase in children who are obese or overweight, too.
Rates for children being overweight are:
Greece 44% boys 38% girls
US 30% boys 30% girls
Mexico 28% boys 29% girls
Canada 25% boys 24% girls
France 15% boys 15% girls
The economic crisis in Greece has only made things worse. Unemployment rates are nearly 25%, spending on health and social services are down, the country’s mood has clearly worsened with the economic depression, and cheap processed food intake has increased substantially. It seems like Greeks are starting to eat fast, processed food like Americans, and it is killing them.
According to health experts at the WHO, the solution to the weight gain crisis in Greece is for Greeks (as well as for people who are overweight in the US) to resume eating a traditional Mediterranean diet. The critical shift is to stop eating processed food with sugar and flour, and to eat more vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, plain yogurt, and seafood—flavored with olive oil, plus herbs and spices.
Multiple studies have shown that the closer you follow a traditional Mediterranean diet, the slimmer you become, and the healthier you will be with less heart disease, less memory loss, and lower rates of cancer as well.
Along with the multiple health benefits of a Mediterranean diet, the weight loss benefits of following a Mediterranean diet has compelled me to research and write my latest book, The Mediterranean Method– Your Complete Plan to Harness the Power of the Healthiest Diet on the Planet — Lose Weight, Prevent Heart Disease, and More! publication date December 31, 2019. The book material comes with 50 awesome recipes, including 20 color photos.
To pre-order The Mediterranean Method, click here.
PS: to learn more of my sailboat travels across Greece and see photos, please visit my Facebook page: MasleyMD
I wish you the best of health!
Steven Masley, MD, FAHA, FACN, FAAFP, CNS
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Iam sorry to say that indeed the Greek childeren on the main land are becoming more obese than on the islands like Crete and Rhodes, where the people are mainly eating the traditional mediterranian diet. Italy is becoming more obese then Greece because of the of the amount of pastas, meat and less vegetables. England is terrible, not only the young ones but all so the adults are 80% obese. The people in Holland where i live are realy becoming aware of a healthy life style. Kind regards, Michael
Obesity is more often due to excess caloric intake above that needed for activities of daily living. The caloric need in children, not yet mature , ( stopping growth), will also vary somewhat as to age and of course the activity. requiring calories!
A child in the summer months and very active will need to reduce caloric intake
when his/her action is reduced. Likewise, a child on various sports will heed intake
to cover the amount of calories burned, but should reduce intake when not using them for physical movements.
Mental activity does not usually need an increase, unless the individual is staying awake longer , which then might require a few more to cover the hours or so awake and active.
Obesity may to some extent be hereditary ( all members of the family are obese), yet my experience would indicate it is (the intake of too much of the caloric foods by all members. Once ins a while you will see a single member of a family group who is thin and much different that the other members. This may be genetic by some source, but most likely is “intake vs. activities= rewards the body with calories to conserve or use depending upon habits and available foods to intake.