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Every few months or so, a celebrity will make headlines by adopting a vegan diet and singing its praises. This is nothing new, and most of the time it isn’t really news, either. But when several world class athletes claim that going vegan has improved their game, increased their athleticism, and (drumroll) led to modest amounts of weight loss, the world takes notice.
In November, Bleacher Report ran a feature exploring the growing trend of professional basketball players making the switch to plant-based diets. In it, many of the players claim that going vegan or vegetarian has increased their energy levels, aided their recovery, and helped them get leaner. When some of the most athletic people in the world make statements like this, it’s hard not to be at least a little bit curious.
But, if you’re thinking that adopting a vegan diet will automatically lead to weight loss and soaring energy levels , you should know that it’s actually much more complicated than that. Experts say that while people can lose weight on a vegan diet, it’s not a guarantee. If your goal is to lose weight, food isn’t the only factor to consider. Things like exercise, sleep, stress, and health conditions all play a part, and the weight-loss process can vary greatly from person to person.
(Another important note: Weight loss isn’t for everybody, and neither is following a specific, restrictive eating plan. If your goal is to lose weight, that’s fine, but your health matters more than a number on a scale or a tag in your jeans, so it’s crucial to maintain a holistic approach to weight loss, which also includes physical activity, good, quality sleep, stress management, and paying attention to other factors, such as medical issues and hormones. If you have a history of disordered eating, you should discuss any plans to change your diet with a doctor first.)
It’s true that there is some science behind veganism potentially promoting weight loss, but the reason why is simple.
Many studies have shown that veganism is associated with a lower weight, Fatima Cody Stanford, M.D., M.P.H., M.P.A., instructor of medicine and pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, tells SELF.
For example, a cross-sectional study of more than 70,000 people published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2013 found that vegans had, on average, the lowest BMI of people with different dietary habits (ranging from non-vegetarian to vegan), even though everyone ate the same amount of daily calories. And a meta-analysis published in the journal Nutrients in 2014 looked at over 100,000 study participants and found that vegan diets are linked to a lower risk of developing obesity (as well as hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and heart disease). Another meta-analysis published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine in 2015 discovered that people on a vegetarian diet—especially those on a vegan diet—saw better weight-loss results than dieters on other eating plans. Of the more than 1,000 people who followed a specific diet for nine to 74 weeks, vegans on average lost about 5.5 more pounds than non-vegetarian dieters (vegetarians lost about three pounds more than those on a diet that included meat). Still, it’s important to remember that there are so many factors at play when it comes to a person’s weight and health, so you shouldn’t take these findings to mean that adopting a vegan diet will absolutely lead to weight loss.
Sonya Angelone, R.D., a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells SELF that veganism can lead to weight loss simply because it’s a form of food restriction. “Anything that restricts food, even temporarily, can promote weight loss in the short term,” she says. Certified dietitian-nutritionist Lisa Moskovitz, R.D., CEO of NY Nutrition Group, agrees. “When most people think of veganism, they think of eating strictly veggies and cutting out high-fat animal foods like cheese, burgers, and bacon,” she says. “Naturally when you eliminate fatty animal foods, you may notice weight loss due to less calorie intake.” Moskovitz also notes that these fatty sources of animal protein are high in saturated fat, which the USDA’s dietary guidelines recommend limiting to less than 10 percent of your daily calories, as studies show that too much saturated fat can negatively impact your healthy.
But, going vegan doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to be eating healthier or less food than usual.
Although a vegan diet automatically eliminates many foods that are highly processed or high in saturated fat, there are still plenty of less-healthy vegan options out there. Plenty of foods—french fries, chips, and sugary candy—fall naturally into the vegan category, but aren’t exactly healthy. Plus, these days it’s relatively easy to find vegan versions of baked goods and other treats. As a result, a person may end up eating a diet that’s technically vegan, but high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. The limited category of things vegans can eat can lead to nutrient deficiencies, Angelone says, so vegans need to be extra vigilant about getting enough calcium, iron, vitamin B12, zinc, and omega-3 fats.
Another potential downfall is that going vegan means eliminating certain foods that are great for satiety, particularly those that are high in protein. Eating a vegan diet can sometimes lead to consuming larger portions and more calories (which isn’t inherently bad, but eating more calories than you expend will likely lead to weight gain over time), Moskovitz says, “because, by eliminating good quality sources of protein like eggs, fish, dairy, and organic lean meats, it can be harder to stay full and keep cravings in check.” That’s why she recommends vegans focus on consuming more protein-rich foods such as beans, lentils, quinoa, soybeans, or tofu, on a daily basis.
Of course, there are many vegans who eat nutritiously with no problems, but being healthy while vegan can actually be pretty hard work. Luckily, you don’t have to go vegan to reap the benefits of a plant-based diet. If you want to go vegan because you truly believe in the lifestyle, be it for health or environmental reasons, have at it. But if you’re considering going vegan and cutting out foods you love just in an effort to lose weight, it’s absolutely not necessary. If you’d like to eat a healthier diet—whether weight loss is a goal of yours or not—Stanford says it’s important to make sure you’re incorporating lean protein, vegetables, whole grains, and fruits into your diet. “It is also important to realize that the less processed a diet, the healthier it is overall,” she says.
It’s also important to remember that undertaking a diet that’s too restrictive for you can lead to dangerous bingeing and yo-yo dieting, which over time can contribute to problems with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
That’s why it’s key to figure out how to fuel your body and mind in a way that’s safe and realistic for you. “There is no one strategy that is universally effective in helping people to achieve a healthy weight,” Stanford says. And, of course, if you’re struggling to find a diet that works for you, seek out a registered dietitian—he or she can help guide you toward an eating plan that best suits your needs.
