Orthorexia in Exercising Populations: Prevalence and Correlates

A vegan diet, which involves avoiding all animal products including meat, dairy, eggs and honey, has grown in popularity in recent years. An increasing amount of research has explored the potential health and environmental benefits of eliminating animal products from your diet. This article summarizes the key findings from recent scientific studies related to adopting a vegan lifestyle.

Improved Heart Health Several large studies following people over time have found that vegans have up to a 75% lower risk of developing high blood pressure and 42% reduced risk of dying from heart disease. These studies attributed the decreased heart disease risk in vegans to lower cholesterol levels and body weight compared to meat-eaters and vegetarians.

Reduced Cancer Risk Research has shown that vegans may have a 15% lower risk of developing cancer than non-vegans. Specific cancers with reduced rates in vegans included gastrointestinal and urinary tract cancers. The decreased cancer risk is likely due to increased fiber, antioxidants and phytochemicals along with reduced saturated fat and animal protein intake.

Better Blood Sugar Control Multiple studies have shown lower rates of diabetes and gestational diabetes in vegan populations. Vegans tend to have higher intakes of fiber and foods with a low glycemic index (meaning slower to impact blood sugar). They also tend to have lower BMI levels which contributes to better blood sugar control and reduced diabetes risk.

Increased Weight Loss On average, vegans have substantially lower BMIs than non-vegans. Following vegan diets for 18 weeks has been shown to lead to significant weight loss even without focus on calorie restriction. Researchers believe that plant foods may be less energy dense while providing filling fiber, supporting weight loss for vegans changing from standard diets.

Environmental Benefits
Perhaps the greatest advantage of a vegan diet is its positive environmental impact. Producing vegan foods like fruits, vegetables and grains requires far less land, water and energy than producing meat and dairy. Experts estimate that transitioning to vegan diets for large populations could cut food-related carbon emissions up to 70% by 2050.

In conclusion, a wealth of research shows following a well-planned vegan diet rich in whole plant foods carries impressive benefits for health, weight loss and the environment. The evidence continues pointing in the direction that avoiding all animal products leads to some of the best outcomes for reducing disease and supporting sustainable food production. More high-quality, long term studies are still needed but the existing data makes a compelling case for giving veganism strong consideration.

Hafstad SM, Bauer J, Harris A, Pallesen S. The prevalence of orthorexia in exercising populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Eat Disord. 2023 Feb 6;11(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s40337-023-00739-6. PMID: 36747235; PMCID: PMC9903632.