A diet has been found that can overcome the consequences of obesity

Every year in the world, millions of people who suffer from obesity die. In two-thirds of cases, the cause of premature death of people with an increased body mass index is cardiovascular disease. However, there is evidence that a certain diet can improve health and protect against cardiovascular diseases even in obese people.

Scientists from Sweden's Uppsala University studied the health history of 79,000 Swedes recorded over a period of 21 years. In addition to age, socio-economic status, data on physical activity and bad habits, the researchers had access to information on adherence to the Mediterranean diet.

During the 21 years of the study, 30,400 of its participants died. Among overweight individuals, the group with the lowest hazard ratio for all-cause mortality included those with a high Mediterranean diet ratio. In obese patients who followed the Mediterranean diet, mortality rates were not significantly different from those of healthy people. But Swedes with a normal weight, but not following the Mediterranean diet, died on average more often than those who ate a balanced diet.

As for mortality from cardiovascular diseases, which accounted for 12,000 deaths among study participants, the results were generally similar. “These results show that following healthy diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, may be more appropriate than preventing obesity in preventing all-cause mortality,” admits study author Karl Mikaelsson. However, weight control is still an important way to prevent cardiovascular disease.