Vegetarian dieting may lead to greater weight loss

Conclusion This research appears to show that there's some association between following a vegetarian diet and a greater reduction in body mass and subfascial fat. But this study has a number of limitations, and the conclusions drawn by the researchers should be interpreted cautiously. There was lower adherence to the diet in the conventional diet group than the vegetarian one. This means the finding of a greater reduction in body mass in the vegetarian group is unsurprising. The thigh was the only part of the body where fat measurements were taken. It could be the case that reduction in abdominal fat – a big risk factor for type 2 diabetes – didn't differ between the groups. The proportion of fat recommended in the vegetarian diet was lower than in the conventional diet, so it would be expected that fat reductions would be greater in the vegetarian group. The vegetarian diet was actually almost vegan, as the only animal product allowed was a small amount of yoghurt. Following a vegetarian diet without these extra restrictions might not bring about the same results. The vegetarian group also lost more muscle mass than the conventional group, particularly when doing their usual exercise routine. This might be an unwanted outcome and a disadvantage when compared with the usual diet. The study involved a relatively small sample of overweight people with type 2 diabetes. The findings may not be applicable to the general population. Based on the findings o...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Food/diet Obesity Diabetes Source Type: news