Mekyle Mir

Dietary and lifestyle differences between Spain and the US

Started May 17, 2024

Abstract or project description

Abstract: Based on objective measures such as BMI and life expectancy as well as subjective survey results, the average person in Spain achieves higher levels of fitness and happiness compared to that of an average American. Several factors have been hypothesized to explain this observation: is it because Spaniards eat a Mediterranean diet which is different from the normal diet in America? Does the Mediterranean lifestyle have an effect too, considering that residents of Spain travel by foot more than Americans do? In this analysis, we identified published, peer-reviewed studies that use a controlled variable like walking programs and dietary interventions to determine which lifestyle factors attributed to Spanish lifestyle directly improve health outcomes. In these studies, we look at objective measures, such as BMI, clothing sizes, miles per day of walking, and daily caloric intake. We concluded that walking intervals help with weight loss and eating a surplus of processed foods positively correlates with a caloric surplus. There also is a positive correlation to experiencing health benefits if adherence to mediterranean diet is strong.