The so-called FAFO diet -Flexible and Friendly for the Overweight- is less known than other traditional and newer diets, such as the Mediterranean, Atlantic, ketogenic or intermittent fasting diets. However, it is highly recommended, says Dr. Rafael Gómez y Blasco, member of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Obesity Society (SEEDO), in an interview with Europa Press.
This diet consists of “a flexible and adapted change in lifestyle,” he explains, which from a nutritional point of view “is based on foods similar to those included in the Mediterranean diet.” The main differential feature, however, is that “the profession, physical activity, place of origin and customs of the patient” are taken into account. In addition, their “economic possibilities” will be assessed to make “certain changes in their hygienic-dietary habits.”
This diet is made with normal meals, based on “typical regional dishes or those that are customarily part of the patient’s daily habits.” In this case, explains the SEEDO expert, “it is only necessary to adjust certain quantities in the food and maintain very simple and open guidelines for its preparation and cooking.” The dishes prepared in this way are “very pleasant to the palate.”
One of the strong points of this type of approach, proven effective in dealing with obesity according to the expert, is that it “overcomes some of the limitations and difficulties” posed by other regimens “aimed at weight loss and gain.” health of the person with obesity”. These obstacles can be avoided with the FAFO diet “in the short and, above all, in the medium and long term.”
According to Gómez y Blasco, “these changes in habits are easy to carry out when they are guided by expert hands.” And “without a doubt, when done properly,” it allows a person to lose weight at an approximate rate of “between half and a kilo a week.”
However, one of the “great contributions” that experts highlight most in relation to the FAFO diet is that, “in a novel way”, it can be followed “by the rest of the family, adjusting the quantities and making it easier to carry out the diet.” herself.” Another advantage that this type of approach to obesity provides is that it is affordable for populations with few resources.
Specifically, the doctor defends its implementation in Latin American countries, where the problem of obesity has grown dramatically. “Understanding that lower-income countries face severe levels of malnutrition and that the main direct cause of this situation is the rapid increase in overweight, allows us to identify selected critical factors and possible options to address it.”
“Knowing the plans and strategies that other countries are addressing and their foreseeable results from a health and economic point of view facilitates the development of a short, medium and long-term action plan to stop the increase in obesity rates in Latin America and the Caribbean,” concludes Gómez y Blasco.
