Anorectic teenagers and obese middle-aged people - this is happening nowadays only in Portugal. It is a strange situation, least to say. Nearly two-fifths of all Portuguese of 18 to 65 are overweight and no less than 15 percent are already obese while over 8% of all 18 and 19 year olds are extremely thin (twice than in same age group in 1995). These facts were released in September 2004, after a study had been carried out and cited by Agency France-Presse. What do these two statistics disclose?

1. on one hand, health of people of 18 to 65 (active Portugaese) is highly threatened by heart disease, stroke and diabetes 2. on other hand, many teens of Portugal suffer from eating disorders (it is argued that they have a repulsive reaction to obesity and they are obsessed with their look).

As Portuguese have changed their eating habits lately, adding more sweets and fatty foods into their meals, obesity range highly increased. A review of their eating habits reveals that many people go to work with no breakfast. Around ten o’clock in morning there is "coffee break", which is usually taken with a lot of sweet cakes, rolls, croissants. Lunch is regularly around one o’clock and means meat (codfish, veal, pork, chicken, rabbit) and potatoes (raw vegetables are rarely eaten). Another coffee break is around five o’clock. Dinner is at eight and consists of meat primarily. The Portuguese eat soup often but after a meal, not before. The famous caldo verde soup is preferred, in spite of fact that it contains a potentially lethal piece of cholesterol rich sausage.

Besides, Portugal is invaded by fast food, especially hamburger outlets like McDonalds. Not only large cities, but also small towns have a McDonalds. Not to mention other fast-food outlets, which make things worse for Portuguese.

State of health	Omega Zone recommendations	AHA recommendations
No documented coronary heart disease (CHD)	Two point four grams of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (four Omega RX Zone capsules/ day)	Have two servings of fatty fish per week. Diet must also contain alpha linoleic acid from flaxseed, canola and soybean oils; flaxseed and walnuts.
Documented coronary heart disease (CHD)	Five to 10 grams pharmaceutical fish oil/ day	One gram of EPA+DHA per day, preferably from fatty fish. Supplements must be taken only under medical supervision.
High level triglicerides	10 to 15 grams pharmaceutical fish oil/ day	Two to four grams of EPA+DHA per day, provided as capsules under a physician’s supervision.

Iulia Pascanu writes for http://www.enterthezonediet.com where you can find more information about the Zone Diet.