As well as being one of the most realistic and safest ways to lose weight, the Mediterranean diet can also help prevent serious diseases such as cancer and heart disease. In fact, the American Heart Association refers to the 'Mediterranean Diet' as the 'gold standard' in heart disease prevention and if followed could greatly reduce the numbers of cardiovascular disease sufferers which currently runs at over 72 million in America alone. Heart disease also causes almost 50 per cent of deaths in Europe, and is reported to cost the EU economy an estimated $200 billion each year. Obesity is now recognised as a serious problem affecting many populations around the world. In fact, the governments in Great Britain, Europe and the US have put it, and its associated conditions such as 'type 2 diabetes', at the top of their public health agendas. The news that obesity-related procedures have quadrupled since 2000 as well as recent stories such as the 34 stone teenage girl from Scotland who under-went radical stomach surgery have highlighted the gravity of the situation.