Popular Diet May Not Help for Weight, but Trial Points to Another Benefit
(MedPage Today) -- A Mediterranean-style diet program did not lead to greater weight loss compared with a control intervention among primary care patients with obesity, though it did improve diet quality, the DELISH trial showed. Missing the trial...
A Mediterranean-style diet intervention did not result in greater weight loss compared to a control group in primary care patients with obesity, according to the DELISH trial. However, the Mediterranean-style group showed improved diet quality and higher adherence to dietary guidelines, which may have long-term health benefits. The trial found that the Mediterranean-style group lost an average of 3.4% of their body weight after 24 months, while the control group lost an average of 3.51%, with no statistically significant difference between the two (P=0.90).
The Mediterranean-style diet group had a significantly higher Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 score (difference 3.62, 95% CI 1.11-6.12, P=0.005), indicating better overall diet quality. Despite no difference in weight loss, both groups fell short of the clinically significant 5% weight loss threshold. The findings suggest that for individuals aiming for substantial weight loss (10% of body weight), GLP-1 agonist treatment or bariatric surgery may be more effective options, while those seeking modest weight loss (10% or less) could benefit from intensive behavioral weight loss interventions focusing on diet quality.
The Mediterranean-style diet emphasizes high-quality fats, healthy carbohydrates, and reduced intake of refined carbs and processed foods.
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