Effects of Plant-Based Diets on Weight Status: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Dietary Interventions
• Public Health

Background:

• Growing interest in plant-based diets for health benefits, particularly weight management.
• Obesity and related conditions like type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease are significant public health concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review intervention studies on the effects of plant-based diets on body mass index and weight.
• To evaluate the efficacy of different plant-based dietary approaches in weight management.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed up to December 2019.
• Inclusion of 22 publications from 19 studies, predominantly randomized controlled trials.
• Comparison of low-fat vegan diets against omnivore diets in overweight or diseased populations.

Main Results:

• All included studies reported some degree of weight reduction.
• Seven studies found significant weight loss differences between plant-based and control groups.
• Four studies reported non-significant differences, indicating varied outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Plant-based diets may offer benefits for weight status in specific patient groups.
• Dietary fat and energy restrictions influence the effectiveness of plant-based interventions.
• Future research should explore plant-based diets without restrictive limitations and with diverse populations.