ABSTRACT
This chapter provides health practitioners a knowledge of the Mediterranean Diet composition, current research evaluating the diet, typical weight loss results, the pros and cons of the diet as well as which patients would most benefit from diet plan. Research conducted on the Mediterranean Diet between the late 1950s and the mid-1990s suggests a protective effect of the lifestyle on cardiovascular health and mortality, as well as a reduced risk for type 2 diabetes. The emphasis on dietary fiber and heart healthy fats has several other residual health benefits for devotees of the Mediterranean Diet, even if the primary goal of the diet is weight loss. The Mediterranean Diet further promotes overall health by promoting blood glucose control and insulin sensitivity. The Mediterranean Diet can be a good fit for many types of patients wishing to improve their health and also possibly lose weight.
