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Less Meat Helps Keep Pounds Off

Lowest weight gain came in people with high intake of carbohydrates and low intake of protein

In a major study of nearly 22,000 residents of Oxford, England, researchers found that the people least likely to gain weight over a five-year period were meat-eaters who had switched to near-vegetarian or completely vegetarian diets.*

“Contrary to current popular views that a diet low in carbohydrates and high in protein keeps weight down, we found that the lowest weight gain came in people with high intake of carbohydrates and low intake of protein,” stated lead investigator Tim Key, MD, Cancer Research Epidemiology Unit, Oxford University.

On average, the subjects gained four pounds over the five-year period of the study. While the meat-eaters-turned-vegetarians were most successful at keeping weight down, the second group least likely to put on pounds were those who were vegetarians throughout the course of the study.

The largest weight gain was in the group who started out as daily meat-eaters and stayed that way.

Another important factor in controlling weight: regular exercise. The men and women who exercised almost every day or who became more physically active during the five-year period gained less weight than people who did very little exercise.

“This confirms that the best way to prevent obesity is to combine a healthy diet with exercise,” concluded Dr. Keys and colleagues at Oxford University.

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