Mediterranean diet and diabetes: A lower-calorie Mediterranean diet combined with daily exercise and regular nutritional support significantly reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes in older adults with obesity, according to new research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The long-term study found that participants aged 55 to 75 who adopted the lifestyle changes had a 31% lower chance of developing diabetes compared with those who only followed the Mediterranean diet without calorie restrictions or structured exercise.
“Our study shows that modest, sustained changes in diet and lifestyle could prevent millions of cases of type 2 diabetes worldwide,” said Dr. Frank Hu, coauthor of the study and professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
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The trial was part of Predimed-Plus, a major eight-year randomised study in Spain involving 6,874 participants who were overweight or obese and at high risk for cardiovascular disease. None had diabetes at the start, but all had metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that raise the likelihood of diabetes and heart disease.
Those in the intervention group followed a Mediterranean diet with a 30% calorie reduction, avoiding processed meats, sugary drinks and refined carbohydrates, while getting 35% to 40% of calories from healthy fats such as olive oil, which was provided free each month. They were also asked to exercise at least 45 minutes daily, six days a week, and participate in regular counselling sessions with dietitians.
While average weight loss over six years was modest, around 3% to 4% of body weight, researchers noted that participants also showed significant improvements in body composition, particularly reduced belly fat and lower body mass index. These changes, combined with exercise, were linked to a reduced risk of diabetes.
The Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, oily fish, and extra-virgin olive oil, has already been associated with benefits for heart health, brain function, bone strength, and a reduced risk of several chronic diseases.
