It’s a diet health experts claim is the best for losing weight.
Now research proves it keeps your waistline trim–even when you’re not counting calories or exercising.
According to a new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, people who ate a vegetarian or vegan diet lost 7 pounds on average, even if they weren’t physically active or watching their calories.
That’s something most diets can’t promise.
“The good news for such people is that they don’t need to monitor portions or calories and still can lose weight,” says Susan Levin, director of nutrition education at the Physicians Committee for Social Responsibility and study researcher. “This is not about moderation, it’s about healthful choices. What is the lifestyle choice I can make that’s sustainable?”
For their study, researchers performed a meta-analysis, or an analysis of multiple studies, commonly used to find trends in populations.
Here researchers focused on 15 studies which examined plant-based diets, ranging from vegetarian diets to strict vegan diets. Half of the research focused on weight loss, whereas the other half focused more on health problems, such as arthritis and type 2 diabetes.
Comparing all of the diets, researchers found that those who ate a vegan or vegetarian diet lost 7.48 pounds on average, which included those who did not strictly adhere to the diet. For those who were completely compliant, their weight loss increased–by over 10 pounds on average.
Not all of them exercised or counted calories either, say researchers, further proving just how effective these diets are at helping people lose weight.
“The take-home message is that a plant-based diet can help you lose weight without counting calories and without ramping up your exercise routine,” says Neal Barnard, M.D., lead author of the study and president of the Physicians Committee for Social Responsibility. “We hope health care providers will take note and prescribe this approach to patients looking to manage their weight and health.”
However, researchers say not all vegetarian diets are equal. Those who focused more on eating plant-based diets, or diets with a larger emphasis on vegetables and fruits, fared better as opposed to those who simply avoided meat.
And the reason why? Some vegetarian diets can actually promote weight loss–no thanks to a higher amount of unhealthy treats, such as cookies, chips, and pasta.
Vegetarian plant-based diets, on the other hand, contain more fiber, which may offset hunger signals.
“The high fiber content and often low fat in a plant-heavy diet might be partly responsible for the results,” write researchers.
What This Means For You
Hate counting calories or working out? Luckily, there’s an easy way to lose weight without all the fuss, say researchers. To help trim your waist, try eating a vegetarian or vegan diet instead–it could help you lose up to 10 pounds.
Readers: Have you tried a plant-based diet before?
Sources:
Study Finds Plant-Based Diets Lead to Weight Loss – LATimes.com
A Plant-Based Diet Causes Weight Loss, According to New Study From the Physicians Committee – PressReleaseRocket.com
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