New Study: Vegan Diet Benefits Childhood Obesity

New research published in the Journal of Pediatrics shows that a low-fat, plant-based diet can help obese children lose weight and decrease their risk of heart disease. The study—performed on children from the ages of 9 to 18—also showed improvements in cholesterol, blood pressure, and insulin levels. According to the lead author, Dr. Michael Macknin, “It was exciting to see. If they can eat like this, the hope is that they can grow into adults who do not have the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. What this is is hope for the future.” More than one-third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese in the United States.