[The Mediterranean diet and fermented beverages in weight control]

Global public health faces significant challenges due to risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Among these risk factors, poor dietary habits, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol consumption are particularly prominent. A diet high in ultra-processed foods promotes metabolic dysfunction, whereas the Mediterranean diet, characterized by a high intake of fruits, vegetables, pulses, whole grains, fish, and olive oil, has been shown to reduce inflammation, improve metabolic health, and lower the risk of chronic diseases. Hence, a high life expectancy in the Spanish population is observed. Within this context, moderate consumption of fermented beverages, such as beer, may offer metabolic benefits, partially due to the presence of multiple beneficial ingredients, such as polyphenols, bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies indicate that moderate beer intake is not necessarily associated with increased body weight and, in some cases, may even be linked to improved body composition. However, these positive effects are highly dependent on the overall dietary pattern, lifestyle habits, and level of physical activity. Incorporating fermented beverages like beer in moderation, as part of a Mediterranean dietary pattern, may be compatible with good metabolic health, provided that energy balance is maintained and excessive alcohol consumption is avoided.