Low-fat vegan diet cuts dietary energy density by nearly a third, helping explain weight loss
A low-fat vegan diet lowers the energy density of the foods people eat by roughly 30%, allowing them to eat satisfying amounts of food while taking in fewer calories and losing weight—without deliberately restricting calories—according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that following a low-fat vegan diet leads to a 30% reduction in dietary energy density, which helps people eat fewer calories without feeling deprived. In a randomized clinical trial, adults with overweight who adopted an ad libitum low-fat vegan diet saw substantial weight loss despite being given no calorie limits.
The diet, rich in water and fiber, allowed participants to consume larger portions of plant-based foods, feeling full while still taking in fewer calories. This shift in energy density, driven by eliminating calorie-dense animal foods and increasing intake of high-volume, low-energy-density plant foods, helps explain how weight loss is possible without calorie counting or going hungry.
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