Characteristics of Slovenian Adults in Community-Based Whole-Food Plant-Based Lifestyle Program

Abstract

Objective. Adopting a plant-based diet (PBD) and lifestyle is healthy, sustainable, and increasingly popular, while also demanding. Individuals might face challenges to maintain this lifestyle. We aimed to determine the anthropometric values and lifestyle factors and motives of adults to adopt a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) lifestyle by joining our ongoing, community-based, WFPB lifestyle program 0.5–10 years ago. Methods. We measured body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage status (BF%) using bioimpedance. Lifestyle status was obtained by standardized electronic questionnaires. For evaluating the motives for following strict PBD, the participants were asked to rank 8 different motives (i.e., 8: the most-, 1: the least important). Setting. A cross-sectional study in Slovenia. Participants. A total of 151 healthy adults with an average age of 39.6 years (SD: 12.5 years). Results. The participants had an average BMI of 23.9 kg/m2 (SD: 3.8 kg/m2) and an average BF% of 22.3% (SD: 7.3%), were physically very active, with an average Long International Physical Activity Questionnaire (L-IPAQ) score of 5541.2 metabolic equivalents (METs) min/week (SD: 4677.0 METs min/week), having good sleep quality, with an average Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score of 2.7 (SD: 1.8), perceiving low stress, and with an average Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) score of 0.29 (SD: 0.1). We discovered no significant differences in lifestyle between participants who were involved in our WFPB lifestyle program for short, medium, or long periods of time. The motives for WFPB lifestyle included health benefits (score: 7.9/8), body mass management (6.3), eating to satiety (4.9), convenience (4.3), environmental concerns (4.1), affordability (3.7), animal ethics (3.6), and religious reasons (1.1). Conclusion. A WFPB lifestyle program for any length of time that includes an extensive support system provides favorable, long-term lifestyle changes.

Nutritional, Cardiovascular Health and Lifestyle Status of ‘Health Conscious’ Adult Vegans and Non-Vegans from Slovenia: A Cross-Sectional Self-Reported Survey

“…The decision to go on a healthy vegan or healthy non-vegan diet may have a number of underlying motives, and usually the strongest motives are primarily related to health reasons. Furthermore, researchers have found several common motives for choosing a vegan diet, from ethical and health benefits, BM management/appearance, eating to satiety, environmental concerns, and religious reasons [ 56 , 64 , 65 , 66 ]. On the other hand, the Finnish study suggested that eating motives are also associated with changes in diets, meaning that some eating motives might be being positively related to dietary change towards a vegan diet, whereas other motives could be interpreted as barriers to change (i.e., convenience and price motives) [ 63 ].…”

“…The total score range was from 0 to 21, where a higher score indicated worse sleep quality and >5 indicated poor sleep quality [ 55 ]. These lifestyle characteristics questionnaires had previously been used in the adult Slovenian population [ 56 ].…”

Placing a Well-Designed Vegan Diet for Slovenes

“…The results suggested that a vegan diet supplemented with vitamins B 12 and D, EPA/DHA, creatine and vegan protein combined with a resistance workout may support the loss of body mass and BF % but preserve and even increase muscle mass [147]. Furthermore, for physically active people and athletes, there is room for further appropriate supplementation of a conventional vegan diet according to individuals' health status, needs and goals without compromising their health (e.g., until proven otherwise), through the use of plant-based protein supplements or meal replacements, sport drinks and creatine [16,140,148,149].…”

“…Regardless, different motives can lead to the adoption of a vegan diet. According to several studies, common motives for choosing a vegan diet include ethical and health-related benefits, body mass management, environmental concerns and religious reasons [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. With that in mind, this has led to the development of new vegan products for the consumer market, including meat alternatives, other vegan alternatives [17] and plant-based protein supplements [19,20].…”

Vibroarthrographic analysis of patellofemoral joint arthrokinematics during squats with increasing external loads

“…The external load of 10 kg constituted approximately 13% of body weight (BW) for men and 18% for women, whereas the percentage values for men and women doubled respectively for the external load of 20 kg. Additionally, the inclusion criteria included only participants with moderate physical activity level, according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long form) [35,36]. Moreover, only individuals with no history of knee disorder or other diagnosed injury or pathology within the lower extremity were included in the study group.…”