Washington DC, Aug. 18 -- A low-fat vegan diet may support weight loss without the need to count calories, reduce portion sizes, or constantly battle hunger. In a 16-week clinical trial, participants following a diet centred on fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes consumed around 357 fewer calories per day, despite eating nearly the same amount of food overall.

A low-fat vegan diet can reduce the energy density of the foods people eat by about 30%, helping them consume fewer calories while still eating satisfying amounts of food. The approach was also associated with weight loss, even though participants were not instructed to restrict calories, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.

In a randomised clinical trial i...