Vegan Diets Aid Weight Loss More Than Mediterranean Diets

Vegan diets aid weight loss more than Mediterranean diets, according to a study published in the Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy. Researchers with the Physicians Committee compared body weight and gut microbiome composition with diet for 62 overweight participants. Each participant followed both a low-fat, plant-based diet and a Mediterranean diet for 16 weeks followed by a four-week washout period. The vegan diet was associated with more weight loss than the Mediterranean group. The authors attribute the increased weight loss to increased fiber intake and changes to gut microbiota linked to weight loss.