Our data shows a progressive weight increase from a total vegetarian diet toward a non-vegetarian diet. For instance:
- 55-year-old male and female vegans weigh about 30 pounds less than non-vegetarians of similar height.
- Levels of cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome all had the same trend – the closer you are to being a vegetarian, the lower the health risk in these areas.
- In the case of Type 2 diabetes, prevalence in vegans and lacto-ovo vegetarians was half that of non-vegetarians. This is even the case after controlling for socio-economic and lifestyle factors.
Although the results do not prove causation, they do suggest that possibility. Thus, it is interesting to examine the characteristics of vegans/vegetarians.
Other Vegetarian Comparison Findings
Compared to non-vegetarians, vegetarians and vegans:
- Watched less television.
- Slept more hours per night.
- Consumed more fruits and vegetables.
- Consumed less saturated fat.
- Typically ate foods with a low glycemic index, such as beans, legumes and nuts.