Have All Your Diets Failed? Vegetarianism Might Be the Solution for You

Many people know this frustrating feeling: trying one diet after another, doing everything to follow the instructions of the chosen or recommended diet—and yet, either not losing weight or losing it and gaining it all back with interest.

For those giving up on diets, a new study suggests there might be an unexpected solution: a vegetarian diet.

The study, conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, randomly divided 72 type 2 diabetes patients into two groups. One group was asked to consume a vegetarian diet, while the other was guided to follow a standard diet typically recommended for diabetes patients. The vegetarian diet was almost entirely plant-based: the maximum animal product allowed was one low-fat yogurt per day. The regular diet met all the usual medical requirements for diabetes patients.

The researchers found that the vegetarian diet was nearly twice as effective in reducing body weight, with patients losing 6.2 kilograms compared to only 3.2 kilograms lost by those in the other group.

Additionally, researchers conducted MRI scans to examine changes in the fat layers of the patients. Although patients in both groups showed a reduction in subcutaneous fat, only the vegetarian diet led to a decrease in muscle fat. This finding is significant because previous studies have found a correlation between fat over the muscles and insulin resistance, suggesting that reducing this fat could lead to better glucose metabolism.

"These findings are important for people trying to lose weight, including those with metabolic syndrome and/or type 2 diabetes," the researchers concluded. "But they are also relevant for those who take their weight management seriously and want to stay lean and healthy."