No Sh*t: Vegetarians Slimmer Than Meat Eaters, Says Science
A study from Loma Linda University is sticking it to carnivores, and showing us once again why eating your vegetables is good for you. The study is part of the university’s ongoing Adventist Health Study 2, which seeks to find why Seventh-Day Adventists possess a lower risk of certain health problems than other US residents.
Researchers gathered data collected between 2002 and 2007 from 71,751 Seventh-Day Adventist men and women, with an average age of 59, and found that vegetarians had a lower body mass index (BMI) than non-vegetarians.
Dietary data was divided into five groups: meat-eaters, semi-vegetarians (aka, these guys), pesco-vegetarians (vegetarians who consume fish), lacto-ovo vegetarians (vegetarians who consume dairy) and vegans (people who don’t eat anything containing animal products). Excluding semi-vegetarians who consumed 1,707 calories, subjects took in roughly the same amount of energy per day at 2,000 calories.
Results revealed that the average BMI was lowest among vegans and highest among meat-eaters. Of those with carnivorous appetites, 33.3 percent had BMIs over 30, as opposed to 24.2 percent of semi-vegetarians, 17.9 percent of pesco-vegetarians, 16.7 percent of lacto-ovo vegetarians, and 9.4 percent of vegans. Keep in mind, the results don’t reflect other possible influences on BMI, such as exercise, location (what foods are available in the area), and socioeconomic status.
So, take this all with a grain of salt. Lots and lots of salt sprinkled over a sizzling steak.
