Will a vegetarian diet help me lose weight?

A vegetarian diet is not inherently a weight-loss diet but rather a lifestyle choice. So a vegetarian diet will not necessarily help you to lose weight.

There is some truth however, that adults and children who follow a vegetarian diet are generally leaner than non vegetarians. This may be because a vegetarian diet typically includes less saturated fat and emphasizes more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and plant-based proteins. These foods that are more filling and less calorie dense.

But a vegetarian diet isn't automatically low in calories. You can gain weight on a vegetarian diet if your portion sizes are too big or if you eat too many high-calorie foods, such as sweetened beverages, deep fried items, unhealthy snack foods and rich desserts.

It is also possible that some foods marketed as vegetarian can contain a high amount of calories and fat, such as soy hot dogs, soy cheese, refried beans and snack bars.

The basics of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight are the same for vegetarians and non vegetarians: Eat a healthy diet and balance calories eaten with calories burned.

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