Weight reduction on lactovegetarian and mixed diets: Changes in weight, nutrient intake, skinfold thicknesses and blood pressure

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a weight reduction programme based on a lactovegetarian diet has any beneficial effects on the weight, nutrient intake, blood pressure and skinfold thickness of overweight subjects compared with a programme based on a balanced mixed diet. The subjects consisted of three groups of moderately overweight persons, with a mean age of 38 years and a mean overweight of 38 per cent. Two groups had a weight reduction programme for 1 year; group 1 (n = 31) had a 1200 kcal lactovegetarian diet and group 2 (n = 37) had an isocaloric mixed diet. Group 3 (n = 42) served as a control group which had no intervention. During the 1-year study period, group 1 lost 9.2 kg in weight, group 2 lost 10.4 kg and group 3 gained 1.6 kg in weight. Weight loss in both weight reduction groups was accompanied by a reduction in blood pressure, skinfold thickness and arm circumference. The results were slightly more favorable in the mixed diet group than in the lactovegetarian group. In the lactovegetarian group 7 persons were not able to follow the lactovegetarian diet throughout the whole year but ate some meat, fish and eggs during the latter part of the study year. The intake of fibre, vitamin C and calcium was greater and the intake of fat lower in the lactovegetarian than in the mixed diet group during the 1-year weight reduction period. The intake of most nutrients was above the recommended level in both weight reduction groups. The intake was somewhat below recommendations for niacin in the lactovegetarian group, for calcium in the mixed diet group and for iron for women in both groups. It seems desirable to recommend a low-calorie nutritionally well-balanced mixed diet, based on familiar foods and rich in vegetables, instead of a lactovegetarian diet, for long-term weight reduction of overweight persons. In the long term some nutrients may need to be supplemented in both diets.