2024-01-15 10:07:44
It is not only a matter of losing kilos in cases of obesity and overweight, it is about doing so by looking at all the circumstances surrounding the patient to personalize them as much as possible: from their environment, to their habits or their spending capacity. It is the FAFO diet, an acronym for flexible and friendly or accessible to combat excess weight.
Foods of the Mediterranean diet. Canva/EFEsalud
The endocrinologist Rafael Gómez y Blasco, member of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (SEEDO)is the creator of the FAFO diet on which he has been working for more than 25 years and which is now being implemented in some clinics in Spain but also in different countries in Latin America with an eye toward the training of health professionals.
“A doctor cannot turn his back on his patient’s situation,” says the doctor in an interview with EFEsalud when defending this model based on a more thorough and personalized approach, a 360-degree view, the differential aspect with other diets that only focus on in the nutritional aspect.
This diet was one of the topics presented at the XIX National Congress of the SEEDO, held last November in Seville, as a pattern focused on modifying the lifestyle habits of patients and which, according to the endocrinologist, has received the endorsement scientist from different societies and experts, from anthropologists to psychologists or human resources specialists.
And it is considered a model that is “affordable” for populations with limited resources, as stated by the academic director of the Central American and Caribbean Federation of Obesity and Metabolism (FECCOM).
The base, a Mediterranean diet
The foods are typical of the Mediterranean diet (fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, olive oil…), although the general rise in prices, especially of olive oil, means that many people cannot follow it.
“It is very important to analyze the patient’s spending capacity to make the diet bearable,” says the expert who recommends more affordable but nutrient-rich fish such as sardines or mackerel, while in Latin America you can consume red snapper, bocachico or catfish.
The endocrinologist considers that, in addition to olive oil, other vegetable oils can be consumed, especially in Latin America, such as sunflower oil, olive pomace oil, corn oil, sesame oil, and discard palm oil.
Bottles of olive oil/Courted photo
The challenge, changing the lifestyle
The main challenge of the FAFO diet is to make a flexible change adapted to the patient’s lifestyle where they work exhaustively with a tool that contains all the information related to the environment where they live, their type of work, the physical activity they perform. , their customs and their resources.
“How does he participate in the shopping cart? How many times is he going to buy? The ability he has to buy certain types of products?…And we are doing work, teaching, education and we are balancing his diet depending on those circumstances that are very different for each person.” , he points out.
An active life is also essential but adapted to the climate of the place of residence, the schedules and physical abilities of each person.
Psychological support with the FAFO diet
The FAFO diet takes into account the patient’s psychological support: “We analyze to what extent they are concerned about physical appearance, if they are affected by the stigma of obesity, how much they are influenced by obesogenic environments…”.
The cohabitation group is also important since this can have an impact on adherence to the diet.
“We need to organize a meal for the entire family group in which, by adjusting certain quantities and preparation methods, the overweight or obese person can be eating” the same as the rest without it causing suffering or generating anxiety.
And this also has an impact on the family economy and the ease of organization.
And for the excesses of Christmas?
Dr. Rafael Blasco y García, director of the SEEDORemember that the excesses of Christmas make us gain 2 or 3 kilos in a few days that can take 3 or 4 months to lose.
That is why he advises:
- Eat a balanced Mediterranean diet.
- Resort to “spoon” meals, based on legumes and vegetables.
- Walking is mandatory daily for no less than 40 minutes.
- Drink regularly (water and infusions).
- Eat five times a day, chewing slowly.
- Banish sweets and alcohol for a while.
The FAFO diet aims to contribute to tackling overweight but, especially, the obesity pandemic that affects all regions given the dietary changes in favor of ultra-processed, cheaper and more accessible products, and a sedentary lifestyle.
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