A recently published study in the journal Nutrients looked to explore the association between an overall plant-based diet and specific plant foods with weight-loss maintenance and cardiometabolic risk factors.
Researchers used data from 710 participants with pre-diabetes, obesity, or overweight from the PREVIEW intervention. The authors analyze those individuals from the 3-year weight-loss maintenance phase of the intervention. They used a plant-based diet index which rewarded points for plant-based foods and all animal-based foods were given negative points. The results showed that an overall plant-based diet was inversely associated with weight regain, but not with cardiometabolic risk factors. However, when looking at specific plant foods, nut consumption was found to have an inverse association with regain of weight and fat mass, and increments of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Fruit intake and vegetable intake also showed potential positive benefits for heart health.
The study concludes by saying that long-term consumption of nuts, fruits, and vegetables may be beneficial for weight management and heart health, while an overall plant-based diet may only improve weight management.
Zhu, R., Fogelholm, M., Poppitt, S. D., Silvestre, M. P., Møller, G., Huttunen-Lenz, M., … & Raben, A. (2021). Adherence to a Plant-Based Diet and Consumption of Specific Plant Foods—Associations with 3-Year Weight-Loss Maintenance and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Secondary Analysis of the PREVIEW Intervention Study. Nutrients, 13(11), 3916.
Researchers used data from 710 participants with pre-diabetes, obesity, or overweight from the PREVIEW intervention. The authors analyze those individuals from the 3-year weight-loss maintenance phase of the intervention. They used a plant-based diet index which rewarded points for plant-based foods and all animal-based foods were given negative points. The results showed that an overall plant-based diet was inversely associated with weight regain, but not with cardiometabolic risk factors. However, when looking at specific plant foods, nut consumption was found to have an inverse association with regain of weight and fat mass, and increments of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Fruit intake and vegetable intake also showed potential positive benefits for heart health.
The study concludes by saying that long-term consumption of nuts, fruits, and vegetables may be beneficial for weight management and heart health, while an overall plant-based diet may only improve weight management.
Zhu, R., Fogelholm, M., Poppitt, S. D., Silvestre, M. P., Møller, G., Huttunen-Lenz, M., … & Raben, A. (2021). Adherence to a Plant-Based Diet and Consumption of Specific Plant Foods—Associations with 3-Year Weight-Loss Maintenance and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Secondary Analysis of the PREVIEW Intervention Study. Nutrients, 13(11), 3916.