Plant-Based Diet as a Strategy for Weight Control

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, obesity has nearly tripled since the 1970s. Obesity and overweight are major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, inflammatory-mediated diseases, and other serious medical conditions. Moreover, recent data suggest that obesity, overweight, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are risk factors for COVID-19-related mortality. Different strategies for weight control have been introduced over the last two decades. Unfortunately, these strategies have shown little effect. At the same time, many studies show that plants might be the key to a successful strategy for weight control. Following the PRISMA guidelines for conducting systematic reviews, a search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase using the following keywords: obesity, globesity, vegan, plant-based diet, etc. Our results show that vegan diets are associated with improved gut microbiota symbiosis, increased insulin sensitivity, activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, and over-expression of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins. The key features of this diet are reduced calorie density and reduced cholesterol intake. The combination of these two factors is the essence of the efficiency of this approach to weight control. Our data suggest that plant-based/vegan diets might play a significant role in future strategies for reducing body weight.

Plant-based diet for obesity treatment

“…Interestingly, a study demonstrated that, despite the calcium level dropping at 3 weeks, it appears to rise after 6 weeks of adhering to a healthy PBD ( 33 ). Vegan diets have been linked to better gut microbiota symbiosis, enhanced insulin sensitivity, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) stimulation, and upregulation of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins ( 19 ).…”

“…In the literature, there are several theories about why PBD is suitable for weight loss. The most widely accepted theory is that plants have low-calorie density (the number of kilocalories (kcal) per unit weight of food) and reduced fat content ( 19 ). Low-calorie-dense foods are more beneficial for weight loss than smaller portion sizes ( 19 ).…”

“…The most widely accepted theory is that plants have low-calorie density (the number of kilocalories (kcal) per unit weight of food) and reduced fat content ( 19 ). Low-calorie-dense foods are more beneficial for weight loss than smaller portion sizes ( 19 ). In addition, some calories are trapped within indigestible cell walls when obtaining macronutrients from structurally intact plant foods, which reduce the bioavailable food energy compared to the results of “available” energy measured with a bomb calorimeter.…”

“…Dietary strategies such as Paleolithic, ketogenic, Mediterranean, high-protein, plant-based, low-carbohydrate, and intermittent fasting have grown in popularity due to their alleged benefits for weight loss and metabolic disease ( 18 ). Over the last two decades, various weight-control strategies have been introduced ( 19 ). Unfortunately, these approaches have had little impact.…”

“…Unfortunately, these approaches have had little impact. At the same time, numerous publications suggest that plants may hold the key to a successful weight-control strategy ( 19 – 21 ). There is a large body of evidence supporting the benefits of PBDs for obesity and chronic disease prevention from prospective cohort studies and controlled trials ( 22 ).…”