Vegan kids are more than OK – ignore misleading headlines
A recent study examining the health effects of different diets in children has been grossly misrepresented in the national press. The Daily Mail claimed, “Vegan children are skinnier and SHORTER than those who eat meat”, while the Telegraph ran a similar headline: “Vegan children are shorter and skinnier.”
Both articles were misleading, issuing alarmist claims that vegan and vegetarian children risk missing essential nutrients. They exaggerated minor differences in height and BMI while downplaying the study’s clear message: these diets can fully meet children’s nutritional needs when energy and key nutrients are well planned and vitamin B12 is supplemented.
The Daily Mail stated: “Young vegans and vegetarians also had a lower body mass index (BMI)…The lower your BMI, the closer you are to being underweight.” In fact, a higher BMI indicates proximity to overweight or obesity – which remains a far greater and growing public health issue in UK children than underweight.
Although the media briefly acknowledged the well-documented benefits of plant-based diets – such as lower risks of obesity, diabetes and heart disease – those positives were overshadowed by sensational headlines. The study’s own authors explicitly warned against discouraging families from choosing vegetarian or vegan diets for children, emphasising that with good planning, these diets support healthy growth while aligning with ethical and environmental values.
Vegan children are not failing to grow – they’re simply not being overfed. Research consistently shows they consume more fibre, fruit, and vegetables, maintain healthy growth patterns and face a lower risk of obesity. Every major health authority agrees: well-planned vegan diets are suitable for all life stages, including infancy and childhood.
That’s not opinion, nor is it bad news. If they’re not blaming the parents, they are blaming the plants! Sensational coverage like this undermines public understanding, discourages healthy eating and distracts from the real issue – our population’s overconsumption of unhealthy foods that harm both people and the planet.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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