A national survey of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Greece: the Greco study

The aim of the present paper from the Greek Childhood Obesity (GRECO) study is to provide current national data on overweight and obesity prevalence in preadolescent schoolchildren (aged 10-12 years old) in Greece, and to evaluate the quality of children’s diet by assessing the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet

Diet and lung health

Diet may act as a significant contributor to lung health. The intake of vitamins, minerals, antioxidant components, fatty acids, probiotics, and prebiotics and the adherence to specific dietary patterns have been associated with the pathophysiology and development of respiratory diseases. This chapter summarizes recent research evidence from the field and highlights the importance of a healthy diet in primary and secondary prevention. It presents available data on the association of dietary factors with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, and interstitial lung diseases. The possible roles of maternal diet during pregnancy and diet in early life are also addressed. The chapter closes with a short suggestion of research challenges in the field of diet and lung health. © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Population level divergence from the Mediterranean diet and the risk of cancer and metabolic disease

The Mediterranean diet (MeD) is recognized as a traditional dietary pattern with strong health associations. It has long been studied by nutritionists who have associated adherence to the MeD with reduced risk of chronic non-communicable diseases, not least cardiovascular and related diseases and cancer. Although possessing unique features and associated with broader lifestyle factors which may also impact on health, many of the foods thought to mediate these health effects, or at least their molecular constituents are shared with other traditional diets. Indeed, it is interesting to note, that wherever populations have moved away from these traditional diets and taken on the high-fat, high-animal-protein, high-refined-carbohydrate and sugar Western-style diet, increased incidence of obesity, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, cancer and dementia follow. Of these traditional diets, the MeD is probably the dietary pattern with the strongest evidence from scientific research for its health promoting ability. The level of divergence from the MeD has been associated with increased risk of cardio-metabolic disease and cancer through different pathophysiological mechanisms. Recent interest has arisen regarding the effects of food group consumption included in the Mediterranean pattern on human gut microbiota. With this chapter, we made an attempt to present MeD from an historical perspective because of its recognition by UNESCO, to define scientifically this way of eating and living, to describe recent research evidence associated to the level of divergence and to conclude whether the impact of MeD food on human gut microbiota could provide a biological model of health preventio