Fish and Vegetables in Olive Oil... As Effective for Weight Loss as Obesity Medication

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyun-ui Cho] The Mediterranean diet, which focuses on consuming vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, seafood, chicken, dairy products, and olive oil. It is considered a popular diet alongside low-carb high-fat (LCHF) diets and one meal a day.

The Mediterranean diet utilizes the principle that eating olive oil maintains satiety and suppresses appetite. It is known that the reason Greeks have lower rates of overweight and heart disease is due to olive oil consumption, making it a method to achieve both weight loss and health benefits.

So, how effective is it for actual weight loss? A recent study showed that breast cancer survivors who consistently follow the Mediterranean diet can achieve effects comparable to obesity medications.

Professor Ji-won Lee from the Department of Family Medicine at Gangnam Severance Hospital and Professor Ah-ra Jo from the Department of Family Medicine at Yongin Severance Hospital confirmed the weight loss effects of combining the Mediterranean diet with anti-obesity drugs in overweight breast cancer survivors.

Being overweight or obese affects cancer recurrence and metastasis in breast cancer patients. Therefore, women who have had breast cancer should be careful not to become obese and maintain an appropriate weight.

In particular, it was explained that using the Mediterranean diet for weight loss is as effective as taking medication. The research team divided overweight breast cancer survivors into two groups and tested the obesity improvement effects over 8 weeks.

Group A (14 people) received a combination therapy of the Mediterranean diet and anti-obesity drugs, while Group B (20 people) followed only the Mediterranean diet. For general overweight patients, Group C (22 people) underwent combination therapy of the Mediterranean diet and anti-obesity drugs.

As a result, Groups A, B, and C lost 2.8 kg, 1.8 kg, and 2.5 kg respectively. All three groups showed improvements in fasting blood glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance indicators. The combination therapy of the Mediterranean diet and anti-obesity drugs did not show better effects than the Mediterranean diet alone.

Professor Lee stated, "The Mediterranean diet improved obesity levels related to breast cancer metastasis or recurrence and improved metabolic indicators regardless of anti-obesity drug administration," adding, "If the Mediterranean diet is well maintained, weight loss effects comparable to anti-obesity drugs can be achieved."