'Meat-Free' Diet in Preschool Children Increases Obesity Risk: Journal 'Obesity Science & Practice'

"The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the children who followed meat-free DP was significantly higher than that of other children," the study authors write.

A study published in August in the peer-reviewed scientific and medical journal Obesity Science & Practice has revealed that meat-free diets in schoolchildren are linked to higher rates of obesity.

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The study authors noted the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Iranian children is on the rise, warning that “childhood obesity poses significant health risks, including a higher likelihood of developing chronic diseases and experiencing early mortality, impacting the quality of life.”

The authors gave additional warnings:

Additionally, excess adipose tissue developed during childhood tends to persist into adulthood. The dietary intake of children plays a crucial role in their health, with significant implications for the risk of childhood obesity. Moreover, overweight and obesity developed in childhood typically continues into adulthood and are associated with the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary arteries, and fatty liver disease which impose high costs on the healthcare systems.

They evaluated the relationship between Dietary patterns (DPs) and the development of obesity in preschool children.

The study found that both dietary patterns and socioeconomic status (SES) “may relate to children’s excess weight as a predictor of the risk of obesity in adulthood that may vary by geographical regions.”

It looked at 320 preschool children aged 4–6 years who were randomly selected from three different areas of Mashhad, Iran based on economic status.

Dietary intake was evaluated using a questionnaire completed by the children’s parents.

The diets were utilized: “healthy,” “unhealthy,” and “meat-free.” According to the study:

• The first DP, “healthy DP”, included fruits and natural juices, vegetables, grains, dairy products, meat, fish, and shrimp.

• The second, “unhealthy DP”, consisted of poultry, tea and coffee, oils and fats, dairy, chocolate desserts, sweet desserts, yogurt drinks, soft drinks, industrial juices, confectionery sweets, packaged sweets, and biscuits.

• The last DP was named “Meat-free DP”, which included snacks, legumes, eggs, ketchup, pickles, and salt.

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The authors confirm that children who ate less meat were associated with higher instances of being overweight and obesity.

“The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the children who followed meat-free DP was significantly higher than that of other children,” they write.

In their conclusion, the authors explain that meat consumption can be used as a predictor of whether a child will be overweight and obese.

“Adherence to meat-free DP and being in the highest levels of SES may be associated with a greater chance of developing overweight and obesity,” they write. “Therefore, meat consumption and SES can be used to predict childhood overweight and obesity.”

The study adds:

The prevalence of overweight and obesity was significantly higher in children following the “meat-free” pattern compared with those following other DPs. These findings highlight the importance of considering SES and meat consumption when developing interventions for childhood obesity.

The Iranian researchers emphasize their findings “showed a significant relationship between meat-free DP and BMI Z-score,” namely that “more adherence to the ‘meat-free’ diet was associated with a higher BMI Z-score.”

The authors indicate that obesity, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer are all chronic diseases that “can be prevented” by changing one’s diet accordingly.

The authors’ affiliations include:

• Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Clinical Biochemistry School of Medicine Social Determinants of Health Research Center Gonabad University of Medical Science Gonabad Iran

• Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences Torbat Heydariyeh Iran

• Health Sciences Research Center Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences Torbat Heydariyeh Iran

• Department of Nutrition School of Medicine Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Mashhad Iran.

• International UNESCO Center for Health-Related Basic Sciences and Human Nutrition Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Mashhad Iran

• Student Research Committee Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Mashhad Iran

• Head of Nutrition Department Razavi Hospital Mashhad Iran

You can download the full study below:

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