A large cross -section study reveals that the integration of extremely virgin olive oil into a normal diet is associated with lower waistlines and improved metabolic health, enhancing its central role in the Mediterranean diet.
Study: Regular intake of olive oil additional virgin is associated independently with lower abdominal obesity. Credit Picture: Mehes Daniel / Shutterstock
In a recent study published in the magazine Borders in dietThe researchers investigated the role of the extraordinary virgin olive oil (EVOO), an essential ingredient in the Mediterranean diet, in its relationship with abdominal obesity. The study utilized an important sample group that included data from more than 16,000 adults to assess the association between the incidence of Evoo consumption and the measurements of abdominal obesity.
The findings of the study revealed that regular consumption of Evoo was associated independently with the lower body mass index (Dims) and periphery of the waist (lavatory). In addition, participants who display irregular or low consumption of EVOOs were observed that they were five times higher chance of being classified as having abdominal obesity than their counterparts, indicating the combined influence of EVOO as a mediator as a median -to -medieval diet.
Background
Abdominal obesity, the accumulation of fat around the internal organs, is a major public health problem. Decades of research have established the powerful link of this situation with several serious chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (Cvd), type 2 diabetes (T2d) and cancer, underlining the importance of enhanced monitoring and early diagnosis.
Body Mass Index (Dims), the proportion of a person’s height to weight has occurred conventionally as a substitute for overall grease, while the waist circumference is the most reliable indicator of central grease. While Dims remains a useful measure of total weight, lavatory It is a more direct and accurate indicator of visceral fat.
Research has increasingly focused on strategies for managing abdominal obesity, with elements that emphasize the importance of lifestyle changes, especially in nutrition, as essential components of effective management.
Mediterranean diet (Mirdiet), which emphasizes vegetable foods and extremely virgin olive oil (EVOO) as the main source of fat, is widely recognized for its cardiomatomatic benefits. Evoo is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant polyphenols such as hydroxytosol and ovo -barrine, which reduce inflammation and metabolic health.
Despite the growing popularity of Evoo in the kitchens beyond the MirdietResearch has not yet separated the specific benefits of Evoo from those of the wider Mirdiet standard.
For the study
This study sought to clarify this gap by providing consumers a clearer picture of whether the usual EVOO intake frequency is related to Dims and periphery of the waist inside the Chrono Mediterranean Diet Score (Cmds) Frame, and not just within the traditional Mirdiet.
The study analyzed data from 20,784 respondents who completed an online questionnaire survey based on the CmdsA measurement that evaluates attachment to a Mediterranean -style diet, while also incorporating timing principles such as the timing of food intake. The projection protocols that included only adults (age ≥ 18) resulted in a final data set of 16,273 participants (8,712 females).
The questionnaire also gathered data on socio -duplicate (age, sex), morphometry (height, weight, waist circumference) and detailed dietary habits. Based on the self -reported intake of about two tablespoons (~ 25 g) Evoo per day, participants were categorized into three groups: “Sporadic” (less than 3 days/week), “frequent” (3 to 5 days/week) or “normal” (6 or more days/week).
Statistical analyzes were carried out to examine the correlations between EVOO recruitment frequency, anthropometric measures (Dims and periphery of the waist, lavatory), and overall Cmds adhesion to categories. Analyzes included analysis of variation (Anova) and models of multiple variables of logic regression.
Study findings
The present study has revealed a clear, dependent on the dose association between EVOO intake and metabolic health. Participants reporting regular consumption of Evoo showed significantly lower average Dims (24.7 kg/m² versus 26.6 kg/m² [p < 0.001]) and the waist circumference (89.1 cm versus 99.4 cm [p < 0.0001]) from the sporadic counterparts reporting their introduction.
A mediation analysis showed that a significant portion (61.9 %) of the correlation between the adhesion of the Mediterranean diet and the periphery of the middle was mediated through evoo consumption. Oil also showed an immediate correlation with the waist circumference, regardless of the total diet score (B = -0.59, p <0.0001).
Logical regression analyzes have revealed that, after adaptation for age, gender and overall nutritional quality/Cmds Score, people who did not regularly consume Evoo were five times more likely to be classified as having abdominal obesity compared to regular consumers (probability ratio [OR] 5.1, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 3.3-6.8, p <0.0001).
Conclusions
This large -scale study proves that regular Evoo recruit is connected independently to lower Dims and the periphery of the waist in this sample of cross -section. Oil was further recognized as a key mediator of the Mediterranean dietary effect effects, enhancing the positive correlations of the dietary plan.
The significantly higher risk of abdominal obesity among abdominal consumers supports existing guidance to include EVOOs in healthy dietary standards, while future timeless and randomized studies will be necessary to establish causality.
This cross -sectional, self -reported research in a European sample cannot conclude causality, residual confusion and error measurement and no socio -economic variables have been recorded.
Magazine report:
- De Matteis, C., Crudele, L., Di Buduo, E., Cantatore, S., Novielli, F., Cultrera, S., Tricase, AF, Arconzo, M., Florio, M., Gadaleta, RM, Piccinin, E., Cariello, M., & Moschetta, A. (2025). Regular intake of olive oil is independent of the lower abdominal obesity. Borders in diet12. DOI – 10.3389/fnut.2025.1645230.