Children consuming a Mediterranean diet are less likely to be overweight or obese than those who do not, according to a recent study.

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes fruits and vegetables, olive oil, fish, and legumes. It is inspired by the traditional dietary patterns of Green Southern Italy, and Spain.

An international team of researchers led by Gianluca Tognon of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden found that children who consumed a diet more in line with the rules of the Mediterranean were 15 percent less likely to be overweight or obese than children with a low adherence to the diet.

"The promotion of a Mediterranean dietary pattern is no longer a feature of Mediterranean countries." Tognon said in a statement. "Considering its potential beneficial effects on obesity prevention, this dietary pattern should be part of [Europe's] obesity prevention strategies and its promotion should be particularly intense in those countries where low levels of adherence are detected."

Researchers also found that children with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet were 10 to 15 percent less likely to be among those who went through major increases in [body mass index], waist circumference and body fat.

For the study, researchers used data from the IDEFICS study (Identification and Prevention of Dietary -- and lifestyle -- induced health effects in Children and infants) -- funded by the European Commission - which involved eight European countries. Weight, height, waist circumference, and percent body fat mass were measured in children from these eight countries.

The parents of these children filled out questionnaires about the consumption frequency of 43 foods. Researchers said additional dietary data have been complemented by a telephone interview performed on a sub-sample of parents.

The findings were recently presented at the Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Sofia, Bulgaria.