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Plant-Based Diets Linked to Weight Loss, Regardless of Processing
New research from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, published in Nutrition & Metabolism, suggests that switching from animal products to plant-based foods—regardless of processing level—can lead to significant weight loss.
The study analyzed overweight participants over 16 weeks. Those on a low-fat, plant-based diet (without calorie limits) experienced higher metabolism, improved cardiometabolic markers, and an average weight loss of 13 pounds (5.9 kg), while the control group saw no significant changes.
Findings based on the Nova food classification system show that participants reduced consumption of all categories of animal products and increased plant-based food intake, leading to lower calorie and fat intake, higher fibre intake, and increased after-meal metabolism.
Top weight loss predictors:
- Reduced processed animal food intake (e.g., smoked fish).
- Reduced unprocessed animal foods (e.g., milk, beef, eggs).
- Reduced ultra-processed animal foods (e.g., cheese, fried chicken, sausage).
22-03-2025