ABSTRACT
I. Obesity as a Public Health Problem................................................ 91 II. Anthropometrics of Vegetarians........................................................ 93
A. Meta-Analysis of Nutritional Studies on Vegetarians ................ 93 B. Epidemiological Studies of Vegetarians..................................... 94 C. Vegetarian Children and Obesity ............................................... 99
III. Weight Loss and Vegetarian Diets .................................................. 101 IV. Potential Explanations for the Anti-Obesity Effect of a
Vegetarian Diet................................................................................. 101 A. Dietary Fiber and Total Energy Intake.................................... 102 B. Carbohydrate Intake.................................................................. 103 C. Protein Intake ............................................................................ 103 D. Dietary Fat Intake...................................................................... 104
V. Conclusion........................................................................................ 104 References .................................................................................................. 105
Obesity is rapidly becoming the scourge of modern society. Presently, at least 34% of the U.S. population is obese (20% or more above their ideal weight) and more than 55% weigh in excess of ideal.
