Mediterranean Diet and Exercise Slash Diabetes Risk by 31%, Spanish Study Reveals

A major Spanish study has shown that combining a calorie-restricted Mediterranean diet with moderate exercise and professional weight-loss guidance can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 31%. The PREDIMED-Plus trial, led by the University of Navarra and involving over 200 researchers across 22 institutions, followed 4,746 adults aged 55–75 with obesity or metabolic syndrome but no diabetes. Over six years, participants who followed a reduced-calorie Mediterranean diet—about 600 fewer kilocalories daily—alongside brisk walking and strength training lost an average of 3.3 kg and 3.6 cm from their waistlines. In contrast, the control group showed minimal changes. Published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the study underscores that modest, sustained lifestyle changes can significantly lower diabetes risk. Experts say this cost-effective, culturally adaptable approach could prevent thousands of new cases worldwide if implemented at scale.

12-10-2025