Defining the traditional mediterranean lifestyle : joint international consensus statement

Journal article

Sidossis, Labros S, Lawson, Rob, Aprilakis, Emmanuel, Barata, Bernardo C., Baska, Alicja, Beneka, Anastasia, Bird, Robert, Birrell, Fraser, Chatzinikola, Charistoula, Chondronikola, Maria, Chrousos, George P, Conduit, Russell, Constantinou, Constantina, Karagounis, Leonidas, de Courten, Barbora, Cvejic, Jelena Helene, Davis, Andrew M, Demetriou, Christiana A., Errington, Linda, ... Itsiopoulos, Catherine. (2024). Defining the traditional mediterranean lifestyle : joint international consensus statement. Lifestyle Medicine. 5(4), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.115
AuthorsSidossis, Labros S, Lawson, Rob, Aprilakis, Emmanuel, Barata, Bernardo C., Baska, Alicja, Beneka, Anastasia, Bird, Robert, Birrell, Fraser, Chatzinikola, Charistoula, Chondronikola, Maria, Chrousos, George P, Conduit, Russell, Constantinou, Constantina, Karagounis, Leonidas, de Courten, Barbora, Cvejic, Jelena Helene, Davis, Andrew M, Demetriou, Christiana A., Errington, Linda, Feehan, Jack, Figueroa, Catalina, Flynn, Mary M., Frates, Beth, Kabthymer, Robel Hussen, Karimi, Leila, Kennedy, Gerard, Kolokotroni, Ourania, Korovljev, Darinka, Kouris-Blazos, Antigone, Kushkestani, Mehdi, Kyriakides, Tassos C., Hutanu, Emanuela Mercore, Mosquera, Maria Cecilia, Nikiphorou, Elena, O'Brien, Nicola, Philippou, Elena, Piątek, Karolina, Poole, Simon, Popescu-Spineni, Dana, Radd-Vagenas, Sue, Sidossis, Amalia, Simonis, Magdalena, Soultanakis, Helen, Telinga, Aleksandra, Tierney, Audrey, Tkacz, Anna, Vlachopoulos, Dimitris, Yaman-Dent, Gulnur, Yap, Yang, Zervides, Zoe and Itsiopoulos, Catherine
Abstract

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.

Keywordsdiet; exercise; lifestyle choices; sleep pattern; social/emotional support
Year01 Jan 2024
JournalLifestyle Medicine
Journal citation5 (4), pp. 1-13
PublisherJohn Wiley and Sons Ltd (UK)
ISSN2688-3740
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.115
Web address (URL)https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lim2.115
Open accessOpen access
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range1-13
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online16 Aug 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted25 Jul 2024
Deposited18 Feb 2025
Additional information

© 2024 The Author(s). Lifestyle Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.

Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
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