Mixed
The mortality benefits of healthful plant-based diets are more pronounced in younger adults (<65 years) and men, while the risks of unhealthful plant-based diets are significantly stronger in individuals with obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²).
If you are under 65 or have obesity, paying close attention to the quality of your plant foods (choosing whole grains over refined ones) may offer you particularly strong protection against mortality. For older adults or those with normal BMI, the benefits still exist but may be less pronounced.
The associations between hPDI and all-cause and CVD mortality were more pronounced among younger participants aged < 65 years... the associations between uPDI and all-cause mortality were much stronger among participants with obesity
Why this rating
Statistically significant interaction terms reported for age and BMI, though subgroup analyses are inherently less powered.
Source
Association of plant-based diet indices with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Korean adults in the KNHANES
Heejin Lee et al. · Scientific Reports · 2025
DOI 10.1038/s41598-025-24698-x
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →