WeightWatchers vs Vegan Diet | WW Australia
WeightWatchers vs. vegan diet
Losing weight can be tough—we’re here to make it easier. In this article, we'll compare the vegan diet with the WeightWatchers® weight loss program. We'll examine the types of foods consumed, potential health risks, and how easy it is to incorporate both options into your daily routine.
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. Consulting with a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian can help create a well-rounded vegan diet plan that supports weight loss and overall health.
Currently there is not enough research to support that a vegan diet promotes greater weight loss than other healthful dietary patterns of eating.
Key differences between WeightWatchers and a vegan diet
Vegan diet | ||
| What can I eat on this plan? | Nothing is off limits! WeightWatchers is built on our proven Points system, which converts calories (aka kilojoules), saturated fat, added sugar, fibre and, protein into one easy-to-use number. You'll get a customised Points Budget to “spend” on any foods you choose. Simply track your food in the app—as long as you stay within your budget, you’ll lose weight. You'll also get a list of nutrient-dense ZeroPoint foods requiring no tracking or measuring. 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 WeightWatchers programs have been developed based on principles of nutrition and behaviour-change science to build sustainable healthy habits around food, physical activity, and mindset. The easy-to-use app features include; "What To Eat" providing eating out and cooking inspo and expert advice. The barcode scanner means you can find the Points in any packaged food quickly. And the "My Progress" feature allows you to see which habits are getting you the results you want—and what you might need to improve. | 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 risk & science | Study after study shows the power of the WeightWatchers program to help you lose weight and stay on track. In fact, there are over 125 studies published on WeightWatchers, including more than 35 independent clinical trials that prove our efficacy. | 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 |
WeightWatchers provides both in-person and virtual workshops, round-the-clock live coaching, customer service support, and Connect—an exclusive social network connecting members for continuous motivation and inspiration whenever it's needed. |
