Many Mediterraneans may not be eating a Mediterranean-style diet

Eating more fruits, vegetables and lean proteins has been associated with efficient weight loss for decades. A recent study has found that Mediterranean citizens may have higher rates of cardiovascular disease than once thought, perhaps due to the fact that many are straying from their well-known diet of produce and fish.

Research published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice determined that 60 percent of Spanish participants from Malaga City were either overweight or obese, and that a significant portion also had hypertension or diabetes.

The team determined that approximately one-quarter of all participants smoked, and that nearly three-quarters of the group led sedentary lifestyles.

Furthermore, the study's cohort had significant rates of high blood sugar, pressure and cholesterol, all of which are risk factors for heart disease.

Such widespread indicators of cardiovascular decline among Mediterranean people may indicate that the diet consumed by these individuals is increasingly including fatty processed foods.

Sticking to a regimen of fish, fruits, colorful vegetables and green tea may help those who want to slim their waistlines do just that, often while preventing the cravings associated with other diets.