Source : Perth Now news
Going vegan could help people lose weight faster than blockbuster slimming injections such as Ozempic and Wegovy, according to new research.
US scientists found that overweight adults who switched to a low-fat plant-based diet lost an average of 5.9kg (13lb) in just four months.
By comparison, trials of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, show patients typically lose around 6.9kg over nine months.
The study followed 224 overweight adults, most of them women with an average age of 54, who were split into two groups.
One group adopted a vegan diet packed with fruit, vegetables, grains and legumes such as beans and chickpeas, while avoiding meat, fish, dairy products and eggs.
The other group continued eating their usual diet.
After 16 weeks, those following the plant-based plan had increased their vegetable intake by around 150g a day and their fruit intake by about 80g.
They also almost tripled their consumption of legumes, while more than doubling their intake of plant-based meat alternatives.
Researchers found the vegan group reduced their daily calorie intake by almost 500 calories, dropping from an average of 1,834 calories a day to 1,343.
Writing in JAMA Network Open, the scientists said the diet “may be an effective treatment for overweight adults”.
They explained that plant-based foods contain more water and fibre while being lower in fat, allowing people to eat a similar amount of food while consuming fewer calories.
The study also found the vegan diet improved blood sugar control, reduced fat stored in the liver and muscles, and increased the number of calories burned during digestion.
However, the researchers warned that the findings have limitations because participants reported their own diets and volunteered for the study.
Around 3.5 million people in the UK are estimated to follow a plant-based diet, which has previously been linked with lower risks of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
But experts have warned vegans need to plan their diets carefully to avoid deficiencies, particularly vitamin B12.
The National Health Service (NHS) recommends vegans take a daily B12 supplement because the nutrient is mainly found in animal products such as meat, fish, milk and eggs.
Dr Julian Owen, a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, previously told the Daily Mail: “This is a vitamin that is fundamental to the function of the human body, and it is almost entirely absent from a vegan diet.”
He warned: “If supplements are not taken, after six months of going vegan, people can start to experience neurological symptoms such as anxiety, depression and even psychosis.”
