What Mediterranean Diet?

[Guest guest]

The Mediterranean diet, often hailed as a model for

calorie-counters worldwide, has lost many of its

classic features.

Greeks suffer higher rates of obesity

By JANET NESTER,

Associated Press Writer

Tue Nov 14, 3:59 PM ET

ATHENS, Greece - Greeks are ignoring their

traditionally healthy diet and suffering higher rates

of obesity and related illnesses such as diabetes,

medical groups warned Wednesday.

Greece has among the highest rates of childhood

obesity in Europe, at more than 30 percent, while the

level for adults is also near the top of Europe's list

— a problem considered to have emerged since the early

1990s.

A University of Athens study of 312 fifth-graders in

Greece's northern Ioannina region found 29.4 and 11.8

percent of boys were overweight and obese, while the

figure for girls was 39.0 and 7.5 percent.

In their study published this month, the researchers

reported that " Furthermore, body mass index and blood

pressure were positively related to frequency of fast

food meals ... but negatively to leisure time physical

activity. "

" Things have changed in Greece, " said

Hassapidou, secretary general of the Hellenic Medical

Association for Obesity. " People have gone toward a

Westernized diet. "

Greek health agencies issued the warning on World

Diabetes Day. Dozens of people lined up Wednesday at

Athens' central Syntagma Square to have their blood

sugar levels tested and to speak with doctors at

information stands.

The Mediterranean diet, often hailed as a model for

calorie-counters worldwide, has lost many of its

classic features. The consumption of meat and cheese

is increasing, while the Greek staples of bread,

potatoes and olive oil have been vanishing from the

daily diet, Hassapidou said.

" People work less, so they need less, " she said,

referring to physical activity.

The United States still leads the world in prevalence

of overweight people, according to data provided by

international agencies like the Organization for

Economic ation and Development. But many

European countries are catching up.

Some 28 percent of Greek men and 25 percent of Greek

women are considered to have a weight problem and have

a body-mass index of 30 or greater, according to 2005

figures from the World Health Organization.

The respective numbers for the United States are 37

and 42 percent, according to the WHO.

A general misunderstanding of food labels is also a

contributing factor, said Dr. Hourdakis, a

dietitian based in the northern Greek city of

Thessaloniki. He said an informal survey of 500 Greeks

found half of them did not understand food labels or

know which ingredients would affect their blood sugar

levels.

" If people get interested in reading food labels ...

then they would buy healthier foods, " he said.

He said he hoped school programs, including talks on

healthy eating by visiting athletes, could help

reverse the trend among youngsters.