Mediterranean diet, with its emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables, has followers all over the world. It has been recommended and praised by health experts as one healthy diet that will keep people from being overweight, healthy and long living. As we know, overweight is a risk factor for many diseases like heart disease, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), etc.
However, it seems that its popularity was dropping lately in some Mediterranean countries including Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Instead, the people in these regions are now in favor of food that has too much fat, salt and sugar. This is the latest warning issued by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), a United Nation body on July 29, 2008.
Growing affluence had altered the way people eat in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Near East. They had switched from their traditional diet, which is light on animal products to more meat and fatty foods. In other words, what they are eating now is just too fat, too salty and too sweet.
Because of higher calorie intake and less physical activities, the people in Greece have now the highest average body mass index and highest prevalence of overweight and obesity among the EU (European Union) member countries. In fact, 3 quarters of the Greek population are overweight or obese. Meanwhile, there is more than half of Italian, Spanish and Portuguese populations are overweight.
In the Near North-East Africa region, there is a significant increase in the overall calories and glycemic load of the diets as well. In general, people with a high glycemic index are prone to get health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
According to the survey conducted on the 15 EU nations, citizens across the EU were generally ignoring the recommendations made by both the FAO and the WHO (World Health Organization) regarding the calorie intake. Statistics showed that the calorie intake for people in Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Malta have increased by 30 percent.
Higher income is probably the only reason for people to change their eating habits. Things like development of supermarkets, working women having less time to cook and families eating out more often in fast food restaurants could also contribute to the change in eating habit. More importantly, the lifestyles of these people, who are consuming more calories, have become more sedentary as they exercise less.
However, it seems that its popularity was dropping lately in some Mediterranean countries including Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Instead, the people in these regions are now in favor of food that has too much fat, salt and sugar. This is the latest warning issued by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), a United Nation body on July 29, 2008.
Growing affluence had altered the way people eat in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Near East. They had switched from their traditional diet, which is light on animal products to more meat and fatty foods. In other words, what they are eating now is just too fat, too salty and too sweet.
Because of higher calorie intake and less physical activities, the people in Greece have now the highest average body mass index and highest prevalence of overweight and obesity among the EU (European Union) member countries. In fact, 3 quarters of the Greek population are overweight or obese. Meanwhile, there is more than half of Italian, Spanish and Portuguese populations are overweight.
In the Near North-East Africa region, there is a significant increase in the overall calories and glycemic load of the diets as well. In general, people with a high glycemic index are prone to get health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
According to the survey conducted on the 15 EU nations, citizens across the EU were generally ignoring the recommendations made by both the FAO and the WHO (World Health Organization) regarding the calorie intake. Statistics showed that the calorie intake for people in Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Malta have increased by 30 percent.
Higher income is probably the only reason for people to change their eating habits. Things like development of supermarkets, working women having less time to cook and families eating out more often in fast food restaurants could also contribute to the change in eating habit. More importantly, the lifestyles of these people, who are consuming more calories, have become more sedentary as they exercise less.
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