It turns out that children who don’t eat meat tend to be thinner and shorter than those who do.
A team of researchers from the U.S., Italy, and Australia analyzed data from 59 previous studies involving more than 48,000 children and adolescents from 18 countries, representing various dietary patterns.
Among the participants, 7,280 were vegetarians, 1,289 were vegans, and 40,059 were omnivores, meaning they consumed both plant and animal foods.
“The studies included participants from early childhood through late adolescence,” said Monica Dinu, a co-author and biology professor at the University of Florence in Italy, in an interview with the Daily Mail.
According to the study, vegetarians were, on average, 0.69 kg lighter and 1.19 cm shorter than omnivores, while vegans were 1.17 kg lighter and 3.64 cm shorter than omnivores.
Compared with omnivores, vegetarians had lower body fat, reduced bone mineral content, and a lower body mass index (BMI). Vegans were shorter and had a lower BMI.
The study team reported that plant-based diets often lack essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, vitamin B12, iodine, and selenium. Children have higher needs for these nutrients during growth.
“Well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets can be complete and beneficial for adults,” said Dr. Wolfgang Marks, a co-author from Deakin University in Australia. “However, the situation is different for children. A plant-based diet can support healthy growth but also poses a risk of nutrient deficiencies unless key nutrients are supplemented,” the team added.
The study also found that vegetarian children consumed more fiber, iron, folic acid, vitamin C, and magnesium than their meat-eating peers.
Despite this, there are some positives to a plant-based diet
The researchers also highlighted advantages of vegetarian and vegan diets over meat-based diets.
Children who preferred plant-based foods had better cardiovascular health and lower levels of “bad” cholesterol compared to their omnivorous peers.
The research team said vegetarian diets have become more popular over the past decade for ethical, environmental, and health reasons. They said that vegan and vegetarian diets in childhood require careful parental monitoring and regular medical oversight.
The study’s findings were published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.
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