WW vs Vegan Diet | WW Australia (2024)

Does a vegan diet work for weight loss?

There’s a growing trend towards veganism for health, environmental and animal welfare reasons. ­The vegan diet is the strictest sub-set of the vegetarian diet, and followers eat only plant-based foods. As well as no meat, fish or eggs, it also means no animal by-products, such as gelatin, a common thickener, or rennet used in cheese making.

A vegan diet can work for weight loss but supplements may need to be considered to meet the recommended daily intake of particular nutrients like vitamin B12. The WW program is vegan-friendly and has vegan foods options including as ZeroPoint™ foods which means you don’t have to track them.

If you are choosing to follow a vegan diet, WW can be helpful with your weight-loss goals.

Our WW program is our most customised weight-loss program ever and tailored to your food preferences. It’s based on WW’s proven Points system, which guides you toward a healthier pattern of eating by assigning a value to foods and beverages based on calories, saturated fat, sugar, and protein content, with list of ZeroPoint foods that you don't have to track or measure. This system guides you toward lots of fruits and vegetables, plant-based proteins, and healthy fats in moderation in order to meet your nutritional needs, rather than defaulting to processed foods and snacks that happen to be made without animal products. We teach you healthy eating behaviours like recognising different types of hunger, meal planning, and getting sufficient portions, and we provide personalised support.

Most fruits and vegetables are ZeroPoint heroes on WW!

The program matches you with a ZeroPoint food list that's based on your food preferences, lifestyle, and approach to weight loss. Your list encourages you to eat a vast variety of fruits and vegetables, which helps you keep your menu interesting and flexible while maintaining a vegan lifestyle.

The program has been developed based on principles of nutrition and behaviour-change science to build healthy habits around food, activity, and mindset. Our easy-to-use tools, techniques, and weekly topics help guide members toward smarter food choices, moving more, and helpful ways of thinking. Becoming a vegan or adopting a plant-based diet alone doesn’t provide guidance for portions or any added personal support without consulting articles or nutritionists on your own.

With WW’s app, website, Workshops led by expertly trained WW Coaches, or one-on-one Personal Coaching, you can choose the membership that fits your schedule and learning style. Plus, you’ll also have digital access to 24/7 Live Coaching and Connect, our members-only social network, for inspiration and real-time tips. You can join "Vegetarian" and "Vegan," groups on Connect.

WW vs Vegan Diet | WW Australia (1)

Vegan diet

U.S. News & World Report Rankings*

#1 Best Diet for Weigh-Loss in 2022

#4Best Diet for Weight-Loss in 2022

What can I eat on this plan?

Everything’s on the menu! The WeightWatchers program has food, activity, sleep, and mindset features designed to make weight loss easier. It builds on our proven Points system, which converts calories, saturated fat, added sugar, fibre and protein into one easy-to-use value. There are different ways to follow WW that provide tailored Points Budgets, along with ZeroPoint foods that you don’t have to track or measure. Of course, balanced, healthy eating behaviours are still recommended.

The vegan diet excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey. People may choose a vegan diet based on their values and/or for weight loss.

Liveability​​

The program has been developed based on principles of nutrition and behaviour-change science to build healthy habits around food, activity, sleep, and mindset. Our easy-to-use features, including our 'What's in your fridge' tool that suggests recipes based on what you already have, techniques that you can learn through 5-Minute Coaching audio sessions, and weekly topics help guide members towards smarter food choices, moving more, sleeping better, and more helpful ways of thinking.

More people are choosing to eat a more plant-based diet and reducing the amount of animal products they eat. This demand has meant cafes, restaurants and supermarkets are providing more vegan options than ever before, which makes it easier to stick to long-term.

Health risks

WW was named the #1 doctor-recommended weight-loss program based on a 2019 survey by Kantar Health of 500 doctors who recommend weight-loss programs to patients.

A vegan diet can result in nutritional deficiencies, including vitamin B12, iron, and calcium. If left untreated, these deficiencies can cause serious illness including cognitive decline, anemia, and osteoporosis.

Social support

In-person and Virtual Workshops, WW Coaches, 24/7 Live Coaching, customer service, and Connect, an exclusive social network with other members for motivation and inspiration whenever you need it.

Blogs written by followers of the vegan diet and online communities exist but do not provide guidance from qualified experts.

WW vs Vegan Diet | WW Australia (2)

*#1 Best Diet for Weight Loss 13 years in a row. Learn more here!

WW vs Vegan Diet | WW Australia (2024)

FAQs

WW vs Vegan Diet | WW Australia? ›

A vegan diet can work for weight loss but supplements may need to be considered to meet the recommended daily intake of particular nutrients like vitamin B12. The WW program is vegan-friendly and has vegan foods options including as ZeroPoint™ foods which means you don't have to track them.

Is vegan really the healthiest diet? ›

Vegan diets can be a part of a healthy lifestyle when planned and implemented correctly. Like any eating plan to restrict specific food groups, vegan diets can come up short in essential nutrients such as protein, calcium, iron and vitamin B12.

Do most people lose weight on a vegan diet? ›

Studies have shown that a vegan diet can reduce your weight by an average of 5.6 pounds in 18 weeks, or less or more than a third of a pound per week! In theory, you can lose up to 63 pounds in a year. However, the amount you lose depends on several factors.

Is there a diet more extreme than vegan? ›

Nutritional effects

Fruitarianism is more restrictive than veganism or raw veganism, as a subset of both.

Which is better for weight loss vegan or low carb? ›

Both keto and plant-based have been shown to help with weight loss and in the short-term, keto wins for overall pounds lost. However, when it comes to fat loss, sustainable weight loss and compliance, nutrient-density, and overall health benefits, a plant-based diet comes out on top.

Is there a downside to a vegan diet? ›

Low vitamin B12 intake is a significant problem in vegan diets due to the exclusion of vitamin B12-rich foods such as meat, poultry, and eggs. A lack of vitamin B12 has been linked to neurologic and hematologic problems [19].

Do cardiologists recommend a plant-based diet? ›

Plant-based diets can lower all-cause mortality and lower the risk of ischemic heart disease with reduced IHD-related mortality [3,4].

What is the obesity rate for vegans? ›

Results: The prevalence of overweight or obesity (BMI >/= 25) was 40% among omnivores, 29% among both semivegetarians and vegans, and 25% among lactovegetarians.

How to lose 20 pounds on a vegan diet? ›

5 Habits for Easy Vegan Weight Loss: How I Lost 20 lbs
  1. Consuming enough vegan protein. ...
  2. Eat enough Fruit and Vegetables. ...
  3. Make sure your meals are balanced! ...
  4. 80/20 Rule. ...
  5. Create a list of easy vegan recipes.
Feb 3, 2024

What is a level 5 vegan? ›

Level 5 vegans are those who are seen as incredibly committed to the vegan lifestyle, and are often hailed as “extreme vegans”. Level 5 vegans go to an extensive effort to follow a vegan lifestyle that is free of any type of animal product or animal exploitation.

What diet is better than vegan? ›

Both plant-based diets offer health benefits, however, vegetarianism offers more protein-dense food options over vegan diets, along with calcium and vitamin D sources.

Are vegans happier than meat eaters? ›

Tracking Happiness asked 11,537 people in the USA to track their moods and asked about their diets. The results were then grouped into four categories: vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian and meat-eater. Vegans reported 7% higher happiness rating than meat-eaters, who fell below the average rating of 6.90.

Does a vegan diet help lose belly fat? ›

While most plant-based foods will help with weight loss and eliminating belly fat, some are especially fat loss–promoting: berries, broccoli, quinoa, black beans, and dates.

Why am I losing weight on a vegan diet? ›

Going vegan is not a quick fix, magical weight loss tool. However, if done correctly, a vegan diet can provide healthy weight loss that is sustainable over time, rather than a quick fad diet. There are three main reasons why a vegan diet can result in people losing weight – fibre, reduced calorie intake and gut health.

Is keto or vegan better for inflammation? ›

Research indicates that low-fat vegan or vegetarian diets can lower inflammation and heart disease risk, while ketogenic diets may benefit certain epilepsy types and reduce neuroinflammation. However, the precise effect of diet on human immunity is still unclear.

Are vegans generally healthier than meat-eaters? ›

Vegetarians and vegans typically have lower body mass index, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and blood pressure than comparable regular meat-eaters, as well as lower bone mineral density.

Is a vegan diet better for the human body? ›

A vegan diet is linked to a lower risk of heart disease

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, and fiber is linked to a lower risk of heart disease ( 37 , 38 , 39 ). Well-planned vegan diets generally include all these foods in amounts higher than the standard Western diet.

Do vegans live longer than meat-eaters? ›

While there is some scientific research to suggest that going vegan and eating less animal protein can help to prevent diseases, the evidence is still lacking in terms of cold, hard numbers on longevity in particular. However, this doesn't mean that a vegan diet won't help you live longer.

Is vegan the only way to be healthy? ›

You don't have to be a vegan or vegetarian in order to eat healthily. “A healthy omnivorous diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, which is high in fruit, vegetables, legumes and low in meat, can be at least as healthy as a vegan diet,” says Dr Phillips.

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