Impact of plant-based diets and associations with health, lifestyle and healthcare utilisation: a population-based survey study
Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of plant-based patterns in the Spanish population and assess their potential impact on individuals with similar socio-demographic backgrounds. Design: We estimated vegetarian and vegan individuals’ national and regional prevalen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Public Health Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980025100669/type/journal_article |
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| author | Natalia Echiburu Maria Antonieta Also-Fontanet Antoni Sisó-Almirall Luis González-de Paz |
| author_facet | Natalia Echiburu Maria Antonieta Also-Fontanet Antoni Sisó-Almirall Luis González-de Paz |
| author_sort | Natalia Echiburu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
Objective:
To determine the prevalence and characteristics of plant-based patterns in the Spanish population and assess their potential impact on individuals with similar socio-demographic backgrounds.
Design:
We estimated vegetarian and vegan individuals’ national and regional prevalence and analysed their socio-demographic characteristics and weekly dietary intake patterns. Individuals with a plant-based dietary pattern were matched to a control group (1:4) with similar socio-demographic characteristics. Associations with the prevalence risk of common chronic diseases, self-reported health status, lifestyle and healthcare use were analysed with unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models.
Setting:
A population-based survey of individuals residing in Spain.
Participants:
Data from 22 072 participants were examined.
Results:
The prevalence of plant-based diets was 5·62‰ (95 % CI: 4·33, 7·28), and adherents were female (68·6 %), single (62·3 %) and university-educated 41·8 %) (P < 0·001). They reported higher rates of ‘never’ consuming snacks (50 % v. 35 %), fast food (58 % v. 36 %) and sweets (33 % v. 14 %). Lifestyle factors did not differ between the plant-based and omnivorous groups; however, adherence to plant-based diets was associated with a prevalence risk of depressive symptoms (OR 2·58, 95 % CI: 1·00, 6·65), stroke (OR 7·08, 95 % CI: 1·27, 39·46) and increased consultations for mental health and complementary medicine (OR 3·21, 95 % CI: 1·38, 7·43).
Conclusions:
Plant-based diets are uncommon and are associated with specific socio-demographic profiles, particularly sex. When comparing individuals with similar socio-demographic characteristics, individuals with plant-based diets and omnivores had similar lifestyles. Addressing patient concerns regarding diet and personal well-being might prioritise healthy behaviours over specific dietary patterns.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-41caebc0a53a42469ff0969a4cb12e34 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1368-9800 1475-2727 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-41caebc0a53a42469ff0969a4cb12e342025-08-20T04:02:27ZengCambridge University PressPublic Health Nutrition1368-98001475-27272025-01-012810.1017/S1368980025100669Impact of plant-based diets and associations with health, lifestyle and healthcare utilisation: a population-based survey studyNatalia Echiburu0Maria Antonieta Also-Fontanet1Antoni Sisó-Almirall2Luis González-de Paz3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4767-8121Consorci d’Atenció Primària de Salut Barcelona Esquerra (CAPSBE), Barcelona, SpainConsorci d’Atenció Primària de Salut Barcelona Esquerra (CAPSBE), Barcelona, SpainConsorci d’Atenció Primària de Salut Barcelona Esquerra (CAPSBE), Barcelona, Spain Primary Healthcare Transversal Research Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques, August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain Department of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, SpainConsorci d’Atenció Primària de Salut Barcelona Esquerra (CAPSBE), Barcelona, Spain Primary Healthcare Transversal Research Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques, August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain Department of Public Health, Mental Health and Mother and Child Health, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of plant-based patterns in the Spanish population and assess their potential impact on individuals with similar socio-demographic backgrounds. Design: We estimated vegetarian and vegan individuals’ national and regional prevalence and analysed their socio-demographic characteristics and weekly dietary intake patterns. Individuals with a plant-based dietary pattern were matched to a control group (1:4) with similar socio-demographic characteristics. Associations with the prevalence risk of common chronic diseases, self-reported health status, lifestyle and healthcare use were analysed with unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models. Setting: A population-based survey of individuals residing in Spain. Participants: Data from 22 072 participants were examined. Results: The prevalence of plant-based diets was 5·62‰ (95 % CI: 4·33, 7·28), and adherents were female (68·6 %), single (62·3 %) and university-educated 41·8 %) (P < 0·001). They reported higher rates of ‘never’ consuming snacks (50 % v. 35 %), fast food (58 % v. 36 %) and sweets (33 % v. 14 %). Lifestyle factors did not differ between the plant-based and omnivorous groups; however, adherence to plant-based diets was associated with a prevalence risk of depressive symptoms (OR 2·58, 95 % CI: 1·00, 6·65), stroke (OR 7·08, 95 % CI: 1·27, 39·46) and increased consultations for mental health and complementary medicine (OR 3·21, 95 % CI: 1·38, 7·43). Conclusions: Plant-based diets are uncommon and are associated with specific socio-demographic profiles, particularly sex. When comparing individuals with similar socio-demographic characteristics, individuals with plant-based diets and omnivores had similar lifestyles. Addressing patient concerns regarding diet and personal well-being might prioritise healthy behaviours over specific dietary patterns. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980025100669/type/journal_articlePlant-based dietVeganVegetarianLifestyleChronic diseasesSurvey design |
| spellingShingle | Natalia Echiburu Maria Antonieta Also-Fontanet Antoni Sisó-Almirall Luis González-de Paz Impact of plant-based diets and associations with health, lifestyle and healthcare utilisation: a population-based survey study Public Health Nutrition Plant-based diet Vegan Vegetarian Lifestyle Chronic diseases Survey design |
| title | Impact of plant-based diets and associations with health, lifestyle and healthcare utilisation: a population-based survey study |
| title_full | Impact of plant-based diets and associations with health, lifestyle and healthcare utilisation: a population-based survey study |
| title_fullStr | Impact of plant-based diets and associations with health, lifestyle and healthcare utilisation: a population-based survey study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of plant-based diets and associations with health, lifestyle and healthcare utilisation: a population-based survey study |
| title_short | Impact of plant-based diets and associations with health, lifestyle and healthcare utilisation: a population-based survey study |
| title_sort | impact of plant based diets and associations with health lifestyle and healthcare utilisation a population based survey study |
| topic | Plant-based diet Vegan Vegetarian Lifestyle Chronic diseases Survey design |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980025100669/type/journal_article |
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