Are Mediterranean Diets Superior to Intermittent Fasting Diets in the Long-Run?

Obesity is associated with common ailments including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, some forms of cancer, and periodontal disease. And there are a number of diets used in the treatment of obesity. Two types of diets that receive a good deal of attention are Mediterranean diets and Intermittent Fasting (IF) diets. And one study, comparing the two types of diets, has concluded that an energy restricted form of the Mediterranean diet is superior to IF diets for weight management and body composition.

The Mediterranean diet is said to have originated in the Mediterranean basin in what some people call the cradle of society. The diet's foundation consists of the following: fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts, olive oil instead of butter, herbs and spices rather than salt, red meat only a few times a month, fish and poultry. The Mediterranean diet has been shown to be a healthy eating pattern.

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a recurring type of eating pattern where there are alternating periods of eating and fasting. In one study where high quality food was used in the IF diets, "The researchers concluded that [an] IF protocol optimized weight loss and improved body composition, cardiometabolic health, and hunger management.”

While both Mediterranean and IF diets have received positive reviews, one study compared an energy restricted Mediterranean diet with four different IF diets, and concluded that the Mediterranean diet is superior to IF diets.

 

The 13-week study consisted of 360 participants. The participants' ages ranged from 18 to 65 years. The participants had BMIs from 27 to 35 kg/m2. During weekly face-to-face meetings, the investigators collected participant data, including demographic information, physical activity related numbers, eating patterns,  and anthropometric measurements.

The researchers concluded that both the IF diets and the Mediterranean diet led to weight loss and similar, positive anthropometric changes. However, the researchers suggested that the long-term health benefits  are not apparent for IF eating patterns. Therefore, for the long-run, the Mediterranean diet is a better choice.

Of course, there are a number of  good, well-known diets in use today. And Mediterranean and IF diets are among them. While the Mediterranean diet could be a better diet in the long-run, determining the best diet-fit for a patient may be more important than a particular diet. Indeed, the best diet for an individual is the diet the individual will stick to.

 

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