Researchers at Oxford University have found that people who switched from a meat-eating diet to a vegetarian one did not gain as much weight over a five-year period.


The team studied the eating habits of 22,000 people recruited to the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) between 1994 and 1999.
The participants were weighed and measured and asked to provide details of lifestyle and diet.


The researchers followed up the volunteers five years later on average, asking them the same questions.

Everyone taking part had gained an average of 2kg, but those who had changed to a vegetarian diet from a meat-eating one gained around 0.5kg less.
Those switching to a vegan diet also had slightly smaller weight gains.


Lead researcher Professor Tim Key said it was known that vegetarians and vegans tended to be slimmer than meat eaters, but they had never been followed over a number of years.

However, the highest weight gain occurred in those who did no exercise, he said.


Source: Men's Health