Meat Increases Risk of Diabetes
… while vegans have lower rates
Eating meat increases the risk of diabetes, according to a study published in the journal Nutrients. They found that older Australian women who eat a vegetarian or vegan diet are less likely to have diabetes, compared to women who regularly eat meat. Those who ate meat several times a day had a significantly higher risk.
Diets high in saturated fats, refined carbohydrates and low in fibre have been linked to increased visceral (tummy) fat and a bigger waist measurement, which are both well-established risk factors for diabetes. Previous studies have reported similar findings – the Adventist studies, for example, found lifelong vegetarians have much lower rates of diabetes than meat-eaters.
Baleato CL, Ferguson JJA, Oldmeadow C et al. 2022. Plant-Based Dietary Patterns versus Meat Consumption and Prevalence of Impaired Glucose Intolerance and Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study in Australian Women. Nutrients. 14 (19) 4152.
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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