Celebrity followers
Penelope Cruz, Portia Di Rossi

The theory
Also called the Greek Diet and the Olive Oil diet, it is less a diet than a cultural approach to eating, and more to do with health than weight loss, though several books combine Mediterranean eating with weight loss. The idea is that if you eat in a traditional way, in a slow way, eating fresh healthy ingredients and incorporating exercise, your body will rebalance its health and that includes weight normalisation.

The plan
In the warm climates of the Mediterranean, traditional eating is based on lots of vegetables cooked in delicious ways. Fish predominates in the diet, as do pulses which are high in fibre. Meat is eaten but not in the large quantities that we generally do in northern Europe. Fast, and processed, food doesn't feature, but slow enjoyment of food with friends and family does. The main fat used is olive oil, wine is enjoyed in moderation and with meals. It is generally a low GI way of eating as carbohydrates are mostly complex.

Pros

• The main ingredients in the Mediterranean diet are closely linked to many aspects of good health, such as improved cardiovascular health, reduced rates of some cancers, less age related health problems, and longer life.
• It is an easy diet to incorporate into everyday life as long as you are prepared to cook.

Cons

• Unless you include good portion control, it is easy to overdo the olive oil. It is lowering calories that ultimately helps shift weight and the number of weighty 'mamas' in Southern European countries testifies to their enjoyment of their food. But at least they live long healthy lives.

  Duration
  Lifelong

  Checklist
  Restaurants: Yes, especially Italian, Greek and Spanish
  Alcohol: Yes, especially red wine in moderation
  Caffeine: The Med is the home of killer coffee, it's ok in moderation
  Need to buy special foods: No
  Ok for vegetarians: Yes

  The pros say:
  Apart from the Japanese Diet there is no healthier way of eating.