Lifestyle Medicine (Oct 2024)
Defining the Traditional Mediterranean Lifestyle: Joint International Consensus Statement
- Labros S Sidossis,
- Rob Lawson,
- Emmanuel Aprilakis,
- Bernardo C. Barata,
- Alicja Baska,
- Anastasia Beneka,
- Robert Bird,
- Fraser Birrell,
- Charistoula Chatzinikola,
- Maria Chondronikola,
- George P Chrousos,
- Russell Conduit,
- Constantina Constantinou,
- Barbora deCourten,
- Jelena Helene Cvejic,
- Andrew M Davis,
- Christiana A. Demetriou,
- Linda Errington,
- Jack Feehan,
- Catalina Figueroa,
- Mary M. Flynn,
- Beth Frates,
- Robel Hussen Kabthymer,
- Leonidas G Karagounis,
- Leila Karimi,
- Gerard A. Kennedy,
- Ourania Kolokotroni,
- Darinka Korovljev,
- Antigone Kouris‐Blazos,
- Mehdi Kushkestani,
- Tassos C. Kyriakides,
- Emanuela Mercore Hutanu,
- Maria Cecilia Mosquera,
- Elena Nikiphorou,
- Nicola O'Brien,
- Elena Philippou,
- Karolina Piątek,
- Simon Poole,
- Dana Popescu‐Spineni,
- Sue Radd‐Vagenas,
- Amalia Sidossis,
- Magdalena Simonis,
- Helen Soultanakis,
- Aleksandra Telinga,
- Audrey Tierney,
- Anna Tkacz,
- Dimitris Vlachopoulos,
- Gulnur Yaman‐Dent,
- Yang Yap,
- Zoe Zervides,
- Catherine Itsiopoulos
Affiliations
- Labros S Sidossis
- Department of Kinesiology and Health School of Arts and Sciences Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick New Jersey USA
- Rob Lawson
- British Society of Lifestyle Medicine, European Lifestyle Medicine Council World Lifestyle Medicine Organisation East Lothian UK
- Emmanuel Aprilakis
- Department of Classics Rutgers The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick New Jersey USA
- Bernardo C. Barata
- Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental Unidade Local de Saúde do Arco Ribeirinho Barreiro Portugal
- Alicja Baska
- Department of Lifestyle Medicine School of Public Health Health Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education Warsaw Poland
- Anastasia Beneka
- School of Physical Education and Sports Science Democritus University of Thrace Komotini Greece
- Robert Bird
- British Society of Lifestyle Medicine East Linton Hertfordshire UK
- Fraser Birrell
- Population & Health Sciences Institute Newcastle University Morpeth UK
- Charistoula Chatzinikola
- Department of Preschool Education Sciences and Educational Design University of the Aegean Rhodes Greece
- Maria Chondronikola
- Human Nuntrition University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- George P Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens Greece
- Russell Conduit
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences STEM College RMIT University Melbourne Australia
- Constantina Constantinou
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences University of Nicosia Medical School Nicosia Cyprus
- Barbora deCourten
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences RMIT University Bundoora Australia
- Jelena Helene Cvejic
- Department of Pharmacy Faculty of Medicine University of Novi Sad Novi Sad Serbia
- Andrew M Davis
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde UK Ministry of Defence British Society of Lifestyle Medicine East Linton UK
- Christiana A. Demetriou
- Department of Primary Care and Population Health University of Nicosia Medical School Nicosia Cyprus
- Linda Errington
- Faculty of Medical Sciences Newcastle University Newcastle‐upon‐Tyne UK
- Jack Feehan
- Institute for Health and Sport Victoria University Melbourne Australia
- Catalina Figueroa
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
- Mary M. Flynn
- The Miriam Hospital and Brown University Providence Rhode Island USA
- Beth Frates
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Harvard Medical School Charlestown Massachusetts USA
- Robel Hussen Kabthymer
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences Monash University Melbourne Australia
- Leonidas G Karagounis
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research Australian Catholic University Melbourne Australia
- Leila Karimi
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences STEM College RMIT University Melbourne Australia
- Gerard A. Kennedy
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences STEM College RMIT University Melbourne Australia
- Ourania Kolokotroni
- School of Health Sciences Cyprus University of Technology Limassol Cyprus
- Darinka Korovljev
- Applied Bioenergetics Lab Faculty of Sport and PE University of Novi Sad Novi Sad Serbia
- Antigone Kouris‐Blazos
- Department of Dietetics, Nutrition and Sport La Trobe University Melbourne Australia
- Mehdi Kushkestani
- Department of Kinesiology and Health School of Arts and Sciences Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick New Jersey USA
- Tassos C. Kyriakides
- Yale School of Public Health Yale University New Haven Connecticut USA
- Emanuela Mercore Hutanu
- Falticeni Municipal Hospital Romanian Society of Lifestyle Medicine Iasi Romania
- Maria Cecilia Mosquera
- Department of Primary Care and Population Health University of Nicosia Medical School Nicosia Cyprus
- Elena Nikiphorou
- Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, King's College London and Rheumatology Department King's College Hospital London UK
- Nicola O'Brien
- Department of Psychology Northumbria University Newcastle‐upon‐Tyne UK
- Elena Philippou
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences University of Nicosia Nicosia Cyprus
- Karolina Piątek
- European Diabetes Clinic Foundation Dąbrowa Górnicza Poland
- Simon Poole
- International Academy of Nutrition Educators Suffolk UK
- Dana Popescu‐Spineni
- Department of Social Medicine Faculty of Midwives and Nursing “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Francisc I. Rainer” Institute of Anthropology Romanian Academy Bucharest Romania
- Sue Radd‐Vagenas
- Sydney School of Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine and Health The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- Amalia Sidossis
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Medical School Thessaloniki Greece
- Magdalena Simonis
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners University of Melbourne Parkville Australia
- Helen Soultanakis
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, USC Dornsife University of Southern California Los Angeles California USA
- Aleksandra Telinga
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde British Society of Lifestyle Medicine East Linton UK
- Audrey Tierney
- School of Allied Health and Centre for Implementation Research Health Research Institute University of Limerick Limerick Ireland
- Anna Tkacz
- Polish Society of Lifestyle Medicine Warsaw Poland
- Dimitris Vlachopoulos
- Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre, Public Health and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Health, and Life Sciences University of Exeter Medical School Exeter UK
- Gulnur Yaman‐Dent
- British Society of Lifestyle Medicine East Linton Scotland UK
- Yang Yap
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences STEM College RMIT University Melbourne Australia
- Zoe Zervides
- St George's University of London at the University of Nicosia Medical School Nicosia Cyprus
- Catherine Itsiopoulos
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences STEM College RMIT University Melbourne Australia
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.115
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 5,
no. 4
pp. n/a – n/a
Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction The term “Mediterranean lifestyle” has gained increasing prominence in recent years, yet a specific definition remains elusive. In response, the Mediterranean Lifestyle Medicine Institute Board of Directors convened a multidisciplinary panel comprising international experts and leaders in lifestyle medicine. Their goal was to review existing literature and formulate a consensus definition of the “traditional Mediterranean lifestyle (tMedL),” referring to the historical way of living of the people in the Mediterranean region. This paper presents the agreed consensus statement and a comprehensive holistic definition of the term “traditional Mediterranean lifestyle.” Methods Major medical and social sciences electronic databases from inception to February 2023 were searched, employing keywords relevant to the Mediterranean lifestyle and its constituent elements (diet, physical activity, sleep, stress, socialization). Subsequently, definitions for each pillar were created and synthesized to derive a comprehensive definition of the “traditional Mediterranean lifestyle.” Results This proposed definition received ratification from the Mediterranean Lifestyle Medicine Institute's expert working group during the First International Mediterranean Lifestyle Medicine Conference held in June 2023 on the island of Leros, Greece. “The traditional Mediterranean lifestyle is characterized by its diverse and adaptable nature. Key facets encompass conviviality, lifelong social connectedness, purposeful living, strong community and familial bonds, harmony with nature and the environment, profound spirituality, adherence to religious practices, preservation of local customs, resilience cultivated through adversity, and a commitment to moderation across all spheres of life.” Conclusions This definition comprehensively outlines the primary lifestyle factors ingrained in Mediterranean inhabitants across generations. Its holistic nature furnishes a crucial conceptual framework for directing lifestyle medicine practitioners in assisting patients to mitigate diseases, promote overall well‐being, devise research initiatives to investigate the health ramifications of this lifestyle, and inform curriculum development.
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