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A Two‐Year Randomized Weight Loss Trial Comparing a Vegan Diet to a More Moderate Low‐Fat Diet
Author(s) -
TurnerMcGrievy Gabrielle M.,
Barnard Neal D.,
Scialli Anthony R.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2007.270
Subject(s) - weight loss , vegan diet , medicine , overweight , interquartile range , randomized controlled trial , obesity , national cholesterol education program , attendance , zoology , physical therapy , biology , metabolic syndrome , economics , economic growth
Objective: The objective was to assess the effect of a low‐fat, vegan diet compared with the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) diet on weight loss maintenance at 1 and 2 years. Research Methods and Procedures: Sixty‐four overweight, postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to a vegan or NCEP diet for 14 weeks, and 62 women began the study. The study was done in two replications. Participants in the first replication ( N = 28) received no follow‐up support after the 14 weeks, and those in the second replication ( N = 34) were offered group support meetings for 1 year. Weight and diet adherence were measured at 1 and 2 years for all participants. Weight loss is reported as median (interquartile range) and is the difference from baseline weight at years 1 and 2. Results: Individuals in the vegan group lost more weight than those in the NCEP group at 1 year [−4.9 (−0.5, −8.0) kg vs. −1.8 (0.8, −4.3); p < 0.05] and at 2 years [−3.1 (0.0, −6.0) kg vs. −0.8 (3.1, −4.2) kg; p < 0.05]. Those participants offered group support lost more weight at 1 year ( p < 0.01) and 2 years ( p < 0.05) than those without support. Attendance at meetings was associated with improved weight loss at 1 year ( p < 0.001) and 2 years ( p < 0.01). Discussion: A vegan diet was associated with significantly greater weight loss than the NCEP diet at 1 and 2 years. Both group support and meeting attendance were associated with significant weight loss at follow‐up.