Researchers in Spain studied nearly 5,500 people to understand how their eating habits and lifestyles affect their overall health and quality of life. Using advanced computer tools, scientists identified five different eating and lifestyle patterns among Spanish people—from healthy Mediterranean diets to more westernized eating styles. The good news? Most Spanish people maintain decent health by mixing traditional Mediterranean eating with modern influences. This research helps doctors and nutritionists give personalized advice based on what type of eater and lifestyle someone has, rather than one-size-fits-all recommendations.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How Spanish people’s eating habits, daily routines, and lifestyle choices connect to their overall health and quality of life
  • Who participated: 5,496 volunteers from Spain of various ages and backgrounds who answered questions about their health, eating habits, and daily routines
  • Key finding: Researchers found five different eating and lifestyle patterns in Spain. Most people showed good overall health scores, with the population maintaining a Mediterranean diet style mixed with some modern eating habits. The study identified specific groups at higher metabolic risk who might benefit from dietary changes.
  • What it means for you: If you’re Spanish or follow a similar diet, this suggests that Mediterranean-style eating combined with an active lifestyle supports good health. However, the study also identified people with unhealthy eating patterns who could benefit from personalized nutrition advice. Talk to your doctor about which eating pattern fits you best.

The Research Details

This research project, called PLENUFAR 7, happened in two main stages. First, the researchers trained healthcare workers (like doctors and nutritionists) to use new tools for understanding nutrition and health. Second, they recruited 5,496 Spanish volunteers and collected detailed information about their health, eating habits, exercise, and how satisfied they were with their lives. The researchers used advanced computer programs (machine learning) to sort people into different groups based on their eating patterns and body chemistry markers. This approach is like having a computer look at thousands of pieces of information and find patterns that humans might miss.

Understanding different eating patterns in a population helps doctors and nutritionists give better, more personalized advice. Instead of telling everyone to eat the same way, they can identify which eating pattern someone follows and suggest improvements that fit their lifestyle. This method is more practical and likely to work better than generic nutrition advice.

This study is strong because it included a large number of people (5,496), used objective measurements of health markers, and employed modern computer analysis. The researchers also trained healthcare professionals to ensure consistent data collection. However, the study was done only in Spain, so results might not apply equally to other countries with different food cultures. The study provides a snapshot in time rather than following people over many years.

What the Results Show

The research identified five distinct eating and lifestyle groups in the Spanish population: the ‘westernized millennial’ (modern eating habits), the ‘healthy’ group (good eating and exercise habits), the ‘active Mediterranean’ (traditional Mediterranean diet with regular activity), the ‘dysmetabolic’ (unhealthy eating patterns with metabolic problems), and the ‘metabolically vulnerable’ (at-risk group needing dietary changes). Most Spanish people showed good health scores on three different measurement scales: MEDLIFE scored 9.3 out of 21 points, HHS scored 13 out of 100 percent, and MHL scored 2.4 out of 5 points. These scores suggest that the overall Spanish population maintains reasonable health status. The study found that the Spanish population generally follows a Mediterranean eating pattern—which emphasizes vegetables, fruits, olive oil, and fish—but with increasing influences from modern western eating habits like processed foods.

The research showed that healthcare professionals could be successfully trained to use these new nutritional assessment tools. The computer analysis was able to accurately sort people into different groups based on their eating patterns and body chemistry. The study also demonstrated that combining traditional Mediterranean diet information with modern metabolic health markers provides a more complete picture of someone’s health than looking at diet alone.

Previous research has shown that Mediterranean diets are associated with better health outcomes. This study confirms that finding in the Spanish population while also showing that many people are moving away from traditional Mediterranean eating toward more westernized patterns. The identification of specific at-risk groups (dysmetabolic and metabolically vulnerable) aligns with other research showing that certain eating patterns increase disease risk. This research adds new detail by creating a classification system that helps identify exactly which people need help.

This study only included Spanish people, so the results may not apply to other countries with different food cultures and availability. The study captured information at one point in time rather than following people over several years, so we can’t say whether these eating patterns cause health problems or if people with health problems develop these patterns. The study didn’t randomly assign people to different diets to test which works best—it just observed what people were already doing. Some health information was based on what people reported rather than medical tests, which can be less accurate.

The Bottom Line

If you follow a Mediterranean-style diet with regular physical activity, current evidence suggests you’re making good choices for your health (moderate to high confidence). If you fall into the ‘dysmetabolic’ or ‘metabolically vulnerable’ categories—meaning you have unhealthy eating patterns and metabolic warning signs—talk to a doctor or nutritionist about personalized dietary changes (high confidence). Consider having a healthcare professional assess your eating pattern and metabolic health markers to get personalized recommendations rather than following generic diet advice.

This research is most relevant to Spanish people and those following similar Mediterranean diets. Healthcare professionals, nutritionists, and doctors should care about this because it provides a framework for giving personalized nutrition advice. People with metabolic health concerns (like high blood sugar, high cholesterol, or weight problems) should especially pay attention. People already following healthy Mediterranean diets with regular exercise may not need to make major changes.

If you make dietary changes based on these findings, you might notice improvements in energy levels within 2-4 weeks. Measurable changes in metabolic markers (like blood sugar and cholesterol) typically take 6-12 weeks to appear. Long-term health benefits from sustained dietary changes usually become apparent over months to years.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your daily meals and physical activity for two weeks, then assess which of the five eating patterns you most closely match (westernized, healthy, Mediterranean, dysmetabolic, or metabolically vulnerable). Use the app to log: meals eaten, portion sizes, exercise minutes, and energy levels. This creates a baseline to compare against as you make changes.
  • Based on your eating pattern, set one specific goal: if you’re ‘westernized millennial,’ add one Mediterranean element daily (like olive oil or fish); if you’re ‘active Mediterranean,’ maintain current habits; if you’re in at-risk groups, reduce processed foods by one item per day and add 10 minutes of activity. Use the app to track progress toward this single goal.
  • Check in weekly with your app to review your eating pattern consistency and activity levels. Every month, reassess which eating pattern you’re following and whether you’re moving toward healthier patterns. If available, get metabolic markers (blood work) checked every 3-6 months to see if dietary changes are improving your health numbers.

This research describes eating patterns and health associations in the Spanish population but does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Individual health needs vary significantly based on age, medical conditions, medications, and personal circumstances. Before making major dietary changes, especially if you have existing health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or high cholesterol, consult with your doctor or a registered dietitian. This study identifies associations between eating patterns and health but cannot prove that changing your eating pattern will definitely improve your health. Results from Spanish populations may not apply equally to other ethnic groups or countries with different food cultures.