However, there is much debate as to what specific effect Veganism has on a person's weight. Some believe that omnivorous diets are more conducive to weight loss, and some believe that meat, dairy, and eggs have no effect on someone's mass. With that being said, how can someone seeking to lose weight know if a vegan diet may suit them?
Unfortunately, the answer is complex. Research done by Barnard et al. suggests that vegan diets are better than omnivorous diets for weight loss. However, this research is correlational, not causational. Thus, how can we know if it is the vegan diet itself that is causing the weight loss, or if the lifestyle choices that a vegan is more likely to have are responsible (e.g, Vegans could be more likely to be active). To answer this question, we have to consider exactly what might be causing a vegan diet to be better for weight loss.
People may assume that the reason Vegans lose more weight is because they are constantly hungry and calorie-deprived. While this may be true for some, evidence suggests that the vegan foods themselves may be contributing to this effect. On average, meat and dairy products are much more calorie-dense than most vegan foods. Thus, if person X consumes the same volume of vegan foods as person Y consumes of omnivorous foods, both people will feel equally full, but person X will have consumed a smaller amount of calories. Furthermore, research done by Vergnaud et al. suggests that meat may cause weight gain even when controlled for caloric intake!
However, while it might be acceptable to conclude that vegan diets are on average better for weight loss than omnivorous diets, there are still a few concerns that should be raised in regards to these conclusions. Those who are vegan are more likely to be health-conscious, but if a massive number of people (particularly obese people) were to immediately switch to veganism, they could still find plenty of unhealthy foods to eat. Candy, chips, soda, and french fries are just a sample of the array of unhealthy vegan foods out there. It seems as if a switch to veganism would help with weight loss, but still- discipline and further smart food choices still need to be made if someone wants to reverse their obesity.
An example of Vegan Junk Food
In my opinion, Veganism should be promoted as an avenue for weight loss, but not as a "magic" solution. Veganism by itself will not lead to weight loss. Veganism in combination with healthy food choices, an active lifestyle, and good sleep will all contribute to weight loss. There will always be plenty of skinny omnivores, and plenty of overweight Vegans. Overall, recognizing that weight loss is a complex issue that does not have a single solution is the most important factor in moving forward with the obesity epidemic.
The first couple of months I went Vegan, I actually gained a bit of weight. Since I had just converted, I wanted to make myself comfortable by constantly gorging on unhealthy foods- I didn't want to hate everything I ate and immediately switch back. Eventually, I transitioned to a much healthier diet and I have since lost the weight. The Penn State Dining Commons make it especially easy for Vegans to lose weight, considering that all of the junk food and deserts they offer aren't vegan.
As always, thanks for reading. In the comments, I'd love to know if anyone knows anyone who went Vegan to lose weight- I love hearing stories!
Photo credit to Kelly Sue DeConnick
I was so surprised to here that a vegan diet can initially cause one to gain weight! I didn't think about the fact that most vegan foods are unhealthy, and that those who choose to go vegan must be cautious of what they're eating. I'm glad that Penn State offers helathier vegan foods and helps you to stay away from the sweets!
ReplyDeleteI have a friend back home who went vegan and did it the completely wrong way like you said and only ate junk food and she gained a lot of weight before quitting and blaming her weight gain on veganism! I think you bring a valid point that being a healthy vegan is all up to the individual's choices. Great post!
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to hear that going vegan by itself may not directly lead to weight loss due to all the unhealthy options still made available to people. Earlier this week, I said I was going to do a very low carb diet until the end of the semester and only eat meats and veggies for weight loss. I only lasted two days. Maybe I should try going vegan and choosing the healthiest options!
ReplyDeleteIt seems counter-intuitive that a vegan diet could cause weight gain - but you did an awesome job of explaining the processes that the body goes through and the different ways that a vegan diet can affect someone's weight. I think that people who go vegan are probably more likely to exercise a lot and not eat a lot of processed foods. I'm not sure though, but it would make sense if that person went vegan for the health benefits. I think that weight loss shouldn't always be the be all end all either - we should strive to eat healthy, exercise, and minimize the amounts of processed foods we consume.
ReplyDeleteWhen ever I hear the word vegan I don't every really think about the unhealthy vegan foods that there is. I feel like going vegan could definitely be successful if people stick to the less nutrient dense foods. Overall, your post was really interesting!
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting that you actually gained weight when you became a vegan. I would not expect that at all. The metaphor you used about veganism being "an avenue for weight loss, but not as a "magic" solution." is well worded. Congrats on finishing your blog! I think you picked a great topic this semester because it shows your passion and knowledge of a particular lifestyle choice.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you always take care to differentiate between causation and correlation; people often read scientific articles without thinking any deeper and end up being misinformed and even taking actions that do the opposite of what they want. I never really thought of the relationship between how full one feels after a meal and the volume of food he or she consumed before which was really interesting. Also, that vegan junk food looks really delicious!
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ReplyDeleteYou did a great job of using your research to really consider veganism in terms of weight loss. This post was very intriguing and I completely agree that the best way to lose weight in any case is just by making the healthiest choices, because there will be junk food wherever you look.
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