Non-meat-eaters weigh 6-7 pounds less than meat-eaters

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 8:29 am Email this article
Non-meat-eaters weigh 6-7 pounds less than meat-eaters according to a 1998 study.

The average body mass index (BMI) in men who ate meat was 23.18 versus 22.05 for those who did not eat meat.

This is a difference of roughly 7 pounds for a man of average height.

In women the BMI figures were 22.32 and 21.32, respectively, or a difference of roughly 6 pounds. Other Items Associated with Being Heavier

Meat, animal fat, past smoking associated with being heavier

In addition to meat consumption, dietary fiber intake, animal fat intake, social class and past smoking were all independently associated with BMI in both men and women.

 

Alcohol

Alcohol associated with higher BMI in men, but not women

An increase in alcohol consumption was independently associated with a higher BMI in men, but not in women.

 

Subjects

Subjects:  1,914 male and 3,378 female non-smokers, 20- to 89-year-old

The data was gathered from the Oxford Vegetarian Study which involved 1,914 male and 3,378 female non-smokers ages 20- to 89-year-old answered a food frequency questionnaire.

REFERENCE

Appleby PN; Thorogood M; Mann JI; Key TJ. Low body mass index in non-meat eaters: the possible roles of animal fat, dietary fibre and alcohol. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 1998 May, 22(5):454-60.

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Obesity, Factors associated with

• Vegetarians