Will I Gain Weight on a Vegan Diet? What About All the Carbs?!

It’s a question we’re asked all the time, and with all the conflicting information out there, we asked registered dietitian Julieanna Hever to give us her take:

A vegan diet has been associated with a lower body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage when compared to omnivorous diets. While weight gain is possible on any type of diet when excess quantities are consumed, it is more challenging on a plant-based diet, as whole plant foods are generally lower in caloric density than animal foods and processed foods.

Further, the most healthful and effective way to sustainably lose weight is with a whole-food, plant-based diet. Carbohydrate-rich foods, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes, happen to be the most nutrient-dense, disease-fighting foods available. They contain fiber, which is crucial for satiety, and phytonutrients that support health. It is important to note, however, that hyperpalatable, highly processed foods (aka vegan junk food filled with sugars, oils, salts, and flours) concentrate calories and promote weight gain.

Plant-based diets are clinically proven to be one of the best ways to lose weight and safeguard against obesity. But that’s just the beginning. Countless studies show that vegans have lower rates of heart disease and diabetes and may even live longer!

According to a report in Men’s Journal, eating a vegetarian diet promotes longevity. Study participants who followed a plant-based diet had an early mortality rate 20 percent lower than study participants who consumed meat!

Scientific evidence that a nutritious plant-based diet is beneficial for your health continues to mount. A vegan diet is a win-win situation: You get to live a longer, healthier life while letting farmed animals live their lives. Click here for seven people who changed their lives with a vegan diet.