More than 4 out of 10 overweight children in Southern Europe. "It's time to return to the Mediterranean diet"

Data from the World Health Organization for the past two years are clear: about 40% of Italian children aged 6 to 9 years are overweight or obese. And Italy, Spain, Greece and Cyprus are among the European countries with the highest percentage of children having excess weight. A fact that surprises, if you think that in these countries was born the Mediterranean diet, a healthy diet based largely on products of plant origin. And yet, right here, in the cradle of the Mediterranean, the population of children (and not only) grows. So that the English newspaper The Guardian wonders if the Mediterranean diet has failed: experts say no, the problem, however, is that fewer and fewer Italians are following this diet.

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• MEDITERRANEAN FEEDING FROM OLD TO TODAY & # HUI
By inventing the term "Mediterranean diet" – which has existed for a long time – the American biologist Ancel Keys was in the 50s of the last century, which, while remaining in Italy, especially in the region of Salerno, has noticed the least deaths due to heart disease compared to those observed in some countries of Northern Europe. And the key to everything was in the diet, according to Keys, more focused on eating pasta, cereals, vegetable products, olive oil and fish, with a smaller amount of saturated fats than those nations North. "From the 50's and 60's and up to 70's" 80 – explains Giacinto Miggiano director of the Center for Human Nutrition of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart – such nutrition, with a large amount of physical movement, has represented one of the pillars of Mediterranean life. "

Subsequently, from the 80s, we started to adopt unhealthy eating habits and lifestyles. , emphasizes the expert. "Changes in the family and in society, with increasingly limited family and family structures, all working adults and the fast pace of life, have led to changes in food choices. The table and the more sedentary lifestyle – explains Miggiano – while the reason why the southern Mediterranean countries are the most affected by the problem of overweight is very often economic: vegetables, organic foods, fine meats and meat. Fish are becoming more expensive. families, to save money, choose inferior products.
Over the last few decades, incidentally, the expert continues, fashion for fast food and sugary drinks has spread, such as soft drinks with added sugars. "These are readily available and inexpensive foods and drinks, but which, especially if they are taken frequently, can contribute to overweight and obesity – remark Miggiano – Even pizzas, desserts and typical dishes, that were once consumed on special occasions related to local festivals or events, they are nowadays often a daily routine. But it is not good. "

An important food education, at the family, school and institutional level, could be a good starting point, according to the expert, and revive a diet like that of the Mediterranean tradition, healthy and tasty." many recipes, with a low economic impact – emphasizes Miggiano – a healthy diet is a weapon that not only serves to prevent overweight, but also many diseases, such as cardiovascular, improving the health of the individual and reducing the treatment costs for the health system. "In short, with the lifestyle you get different results at the same time.

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• RECIPES
From orecchiette to turnip greens and tomat Fresh pasta with cauliflower and cacioricotta, pasta "ciceri e tria" and chickpeas with artichoke pie and scamorza cheese potatoes. These are just some of the recipes of the Mediterranean peasant tradition – illustrated for example in the book by Mauro Destino "The Italian way to the vegetarian diet" (Pensión Scientifique Edito, 240 pages 20 euro) only apparently old: indeed, although traditional, they also meet the needs of millions of Italians – about 7% of the population, a figure that has increased in recent decades – who today choose a diet vegetarian and vegan. Thus, the peasant food culture of centuries ago, based mainly on vegetable dishes rather than meat, is mixed with modern food styles, like "vegetarianism", becoming more popular lately.

"Reintroducing certain recipes from the Mediterranean tradition can be a valuable tool, both for adults and children, to eat healthy and satisfying, always not exceeding quantities, desserts, and maintain a balanced diet, which includes all the nutrients – Miggiano concludes – not to mention that humans do not only eat for food, but also for taste, so if you have to spend a little more time cooking, on the other hand there are advantages for our health and for the palate and for the pleasure of sharing traditions, since food is also culture. "