Defining the Traditional Mediterranean Lifestyle: Joint International Consensus Statement
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.
Authors
- Ourania Kolokotroni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7653-002X)
- Christiana A. Demetriou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4002-2880)
- Darinka Korovljev (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2510-3044)
- Labros S. Sidossis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8313-7966)
- Elena Nikiphorou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6847-3726)
- Jelena Cvejić (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4932-0251)
- Amalia Sidossis
- Beth Frates
- Andrew M. Davis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2826-8562)
- Leonidas G. Karagounis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2403-3387)
- Dimitris Vlachopoulos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1556-715X)
- Elena Philippou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0300-9572)
- Robel Hussen Kabthymer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6734-0312)
- George Panagiotis Chrousos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3098-5264)
- Catalina Figueroa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4424-021X)
- Tassos C. Kyriakides (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8913-108X)
- Catherine Itsiopoulos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1397-4149)
- Leila Karimi
- Dana Popescu‐Spineni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5222-2540)
- Yang Yap (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7186-5146)
- Fraser Birrell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6163-6155)
- Anastasia Beneka
- Magdalena Simonis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2842-4839)
- Maria Chondronikola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7762-065X)
- Russell Conduit (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9356-6844)
- Sue Radd‐Vagenas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8285-5819)
- Mary M. Flynn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6786-7464)
- Nicola O’Brien (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7773-6871)
- Rob Lawson
- Barbora de Courten (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8760-2511)
- Jack Feehan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9627-1299)
- Mehdi Kushkestani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9818-9662)
- Antigone Kouris‐Blazos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7289-4889)
- Linda Errington (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1375-0033)
- R. Byron Bird (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6863-3379)
- Alicja Baska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8887-7453)
- Constantina Constantinou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6167-4023)
- Audrey Tierney (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8562-2877)
- Zoe Zervides
- Gerard Kennedy
- Emmanuel Aprilakis
- Emanuela Mercore Hutanu
- Karolina Piątek
- Bernardo C. Barata
- Aleksandra Telinga
- Anna Tkacz
- Gulnur Yaman‐Dent
- Helen Soultanakis
- Maria Cecilia Mosquera
- Simon Poole
- Charistoula Chatzinikola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1670-0496)
Institutions
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (AU)
- University of Southern California (US)
- University of Bern (CH)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Harvard University (US)
- Democritus University of Thrace (GR)
- Federation University (AU)
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy (RO)
- Cyprus University of Technology (CY)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- University of Novi Sad (RS)
- University of Nicosia (CY)
- King's College London (GB)
- Utrecht University (NL)
- La Trobe University (AU)
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR)
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR)
- University of Limerick (IE)
- University of Exeter (GB)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Brown University (US)
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (US)
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GB)
- Miriam Hospital (US)
- University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
- Northumbria University (GB)
- Yale University (US)
- Romanian Society of Nephrology (RO)
- Polish Botanical Society (PL)
- Center for Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences (RS)
- Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo (PT)
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine (PL)
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (CH)
- WSB University (PL)
- Sociedad de Biología de Chile (CL)
- King's College Hospital (GB)
- Monash University (AU)
- Romanian Academy (RO)
- Victoria University (AU)
- RMIT University (AU)
- Newcastle University (GB)
- Australian Catholic University (AU)
- University of the Aegean (GR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Lifestyle Medicine
- Published
- 2024-08-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.115
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.26