Weight gain loophole? Processed plant foods may beat animal products, says study

Processed plant foods vs animal products: The diet loophole you should know for weight gain. Health experts have warned for years that processed foods are a guaranteed method for gaining pounds but what if that is only half the truth? Revolutionary new research from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine indicates that not all processed foods are created equal. Actually, plant-based processed foods might not lead to weight gain as do their animal-derived counterparts.

Surprising diet loophole

"Pick a bagel for breakfast in place of bacon or a veggie burger in place of a hamburger for dinner and that's the best choice if you're trying to lose weight,".Released in Nutrition & Metabolism, the research flipped the script on what was thought to be true, revealing that you could still indulge in processed plant foods without gaining weight provided you eliminate animal products altogether. Dr Kahleova emphasized that loading up on plant foods—even those that are labeled ultra-processed, like soy milk and vegan yogurt can have a positive effect on your weight and health.

Why these problems

For most, the concept of going on a plant-based diet seems overwhelming, particularly with the belief that one has to cook everything from scratch, but this study implied that even convenient, packaged plant-based foods can aid in weight loss. Further, this transition could assist in the fight against diet-related illnesses, which are still on the increase nationwide. Processing level vs food source

In order to confirm their hypothesis, scientists analyzed the data of a 16-week clinical trial on 244 overweight adults. The participants were split into two groups: one followed a vegan diet, and the other continued their usual diets. In the vegan group, there were no food limitations, and no necessity to exclude processed foods the only condition was to exclude animal products. After 16 weeks, the result was striking. 

Processing level vs food source

To prove their hypothesis, scientists examined the results of a 16-week clinical trial conducted on 244 adults who were overweight. The volunteers were divided into two groups: one ate a vegan diet, and the other maintained their regular diets. There were no dietary restrictions in the vegan group, and no need to give up processed foods the only requirement was to cut out animal products. At the end of the 16 weeks, the outcome was dramatic.

The vegan group lost 13 pounds (5.9 kilograms) more on average than the control group, despite the fact that many of them continued to consume processed plant foods such as frozen vegan pizzas and plant burgers. The NOVA food classification system, which grades foods according to processing levels, supported a central finding: weight loss was more strongly associated with the food being eaten than with the degree of processing.

The strongest predictors of weight loss were:

• Reducing ultra-processed animal foods (such as smoked fish)
• Reducing unprocessed animal foods (such as milk, beef, and eggs)
• Eliminating ultra-processed animal foods (such as cheese, fried chicken, and sausage)

By contrast, none of the processed plant food groups, even the ultra-processed ones, predicted weight gain.

The science of plant-based weight loss

So why do processed plant foods act differently from their animal-based equivalents? The reason is fiber and fat content. Plant foods contain more fiber and less fat naturally, which makes individuals feel full on fewer calories.