The Mediterranean Diet Loses Steam At Home

For decades now food scholars and nutritionists have been espousing the wonders of the Mediterranean Diet, which is based on the traditional cuisines of the nations located along the Mediterranean Sea. In fact, it has been scientifically proven that maintaining this lifestyle of eating can improve longevity and reduce the risks of incurring a whole slew of diseases. 

However, recent studies are showing that the youth of these European nations are adopting what they're calling the "industrial global diet", which is based on meat-heavy American eating habits. Angelo Pietrobelli, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Verona in Northern Italy estimates that currently 36% of Italians ages 12 to 16 are overweight or obese. Heightened rates of obesity are also present among similar age demographics in Greece and Spain. 

The Daily Byte is a regular column dedicated to covering interesting food news and trends across the country. Click here for previous columns.