Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Tuesday, Apr 07, 2026

Beyond Veganuary: Is going plant-based a smart way to lose weight?

Search for #Veganuary on Instagram and you'll find meatless burgers, dairy-free croissants and porridge topped with just about every plant-based food you can think of.

You'll also find people posing in gym wear, adverts for "diet" protein powders and posts about weight loss.

People do Veganuary for a wide range of ethical and health reasons. For some it's weight loss - especially if they're inspired by celebrities like Beyonce, whose pre-Coachella diet was described by nutritionists as potentially dangerous.

But is it a viable or healthy way to shed pounds in January, or in the long-run?

For Laura Banks, 23, losing weight was one of the main drives behind doing Veganuary, and she has been documenting her progress on Instagram.

"I do feel a lot more healthy," she says, three weeks in. "But I've had a similar weight loss to when I was an omnivore."

She says she feels adequately informed about maintaining a balanced diet because she studies nutrition at university, and stresses the importance of planning meals ahead.

One challenge she's found to weight loss, however, is the availability of vegan fast-food - especially since she doesn't have enough room in her student accommodation to store the fresh produce she'd like to buy.

Sam Calvert, spokeswoman for the Vegan Society, stresses that being vegan doesn't necessarily mean being slim, and that whether or not you lose weight by going plant-based will depend on what you eat.

"You can eat nothing but vegan chocolate and chips and be vegan, but you won't lose weight and it won't be good for you," she says.

She adds that veganism is a broader "belief" that goes beyond diet, and hopes that ethical considerations are the main reason people choose to stay vegan after January.

Harley Street nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert takes issue with celebrities promoting vegan diets.

She thinks Veganuary is founded on "good motives", but that doing it to lose weight is "not very sustainable" if shedding pounds is a long-term goal.

"Straight away if you have one month in your head, or one way of eating in your head, you're limiting yourself and making it harder for yourself to keep up those changes," she says.

She urges people considering going plant-based after January to make small changes such as meat-free Mondays.

This way your body can get used to having fewer animal products over time, rather than having to cope with a sudden change that can be a "shock" for the digestive system, she says.

She adds that people who do go plant-based need to ensure they get enough protein, iodine, calcium, B12, iron, vitamin D and omega 3.

Toni Vernelli, spokeswoman for Veganuary, says people who signed up through the campaign's official website receive daily emails about nutrition.

She stresses that going vegan "doesn't mean deprivation" but, like Laura, says it does require common sense and planning.


'I wasn't very educated'

Sumaya Tarabi, a vegan food blogger from west London, says she didn't know enough about nutrition when she became vegan at 15, and warns people against going plant-based to look like "skinny" Instagram influencers like she did.

"I wasn't very educated so I used veganism as a way to restrict myself," she says, adding that she was "constantly starving" because she didn't know enough about nutrition.

She says she also exercised excessively, and was forced to reassess her diet and attitude when a treadmill she had been setting up collapsed on her because she was too weak to hold it.

Now 18, Sumaya follows vegan influencers who promote strength and a balanced diet.

She wants people who want to go plant-based after Veganuary to make sure they know how to fuel their bodies.

"I realised I can be vegan and I can be healthy... I don't need to be super-thin," she says.


'Spot the signs'

Tom Quinn, spokesman for eating disorder charity Beat, says some people with eating disorders may use veganism as a "socially acceptable" way to follow a restrictive diet.

"It may make it harder for people around them to spot the signs," he says.

However, he adds that for those in recovery, meal plans can provide "reassurance and stability".

He says more research is needed into the "risks" that veganism could potentially pose for those who already have problematic relationships with food.

After Sumaya's accident, her mother told her to pause her vegan diet and gain weight - and now Sumaya wants other parents to keep tabs on their children's eating habits too.

"Check [your children's] habits, make sure they're eating enough, and make sure that they're not... following influencers and YouTubers that are talking about random life hacks and silly fitness things that aren't backed up with science," she says.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Taiwan to Source Oil Shipments from Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Ports
Saudi Arabia Evacuates Riyadh Financial District as Precaution Amid Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia Balances Ambitious Economic Vision Amid Regional Tensions and Financial Pressures
Budget Saudi Arabia Reports Strong Full-Year 2025 Financial Performance
Saudi Arabia Expands Investment in Capcom With Stake Reaching Six Percent
Saudi Arabia Assesses Significant Economic Impact From Regional Conflict Involving Iran
US Beef Secures Expanded Market Access in Saudi Arabia
Jordan and Saudi Arabia Declare Absolute Solidarity in Response to Iranian Threats
Saudi Arabia Raises Oil Prices to Record Premium Amid Strong Market Demand
California’s Salton Sea Emerges as Strategic Lithium Hub for Clean Energy Future
Iranian Drone Strike on US Embassy in Saudi Arabia Reportedly Targeted Intelligence Facility
Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Meets French Embassy Official to Strengthen Bilateral Engagement
Saudi Arabia Calls on United States to Seize Strategic Opportunity to Reshape Middle East
Dating Apps Surge in Saudi Arabia as Social Norms Rapidly Evolve Among Youth
Saudi Arabia Detains Over Fourteen Thousand Illegal Residents in Week-Long Enforcement Drive
Saudi Foreign Minister Engages in Diplomatic Talks with Pakistan, Kuwait and Latvia on Regional Developments
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Cruise Missile as Regional Tensions Intensify
Saudi Stock Market Edges Higher as Tadawul Index Records Modest Gain
Underlying Rivalry Between Saudi Arabia and UAE Persists Despite Temporary Calm
Saudi Arabia’s Non-Oil Sector Contracts in March as Regional Tensions Weigh on Business Activity
Saudi Arabia Unveils Ambition to Establish Prestigious Global Prize Rivaling the Nobel
Saudi Crown Prince to Engage Wall Street in Push for Investment and Economic Expansion
Iran Accuses Saudi Arabia and UAE After Downing of Chinese-Made Drone
Saudi Arabia Condemns Attack on Hospital in Sudan, Calls for Protection of Civilians
Coordinated Drone Strike Targets CIA Facility Within US Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Italy’s Meloni Prioritises Energy Security and Strait of Hormuz Stability During Gulf Tour
Uncertainty Emerges Over Timeline and Direction of Saudi Arabia’s Ambitious Ski Resort Project
UAE and Saudi Arabia Escalate Strategy with Drone Operations Targeting Iran
Trump Delivers Characteristic Remarks on Saudi Crown Prince Amid Intensifying Iran Conflict
Drone Strike on US Embassy in Riyadh Caused Greater Damage Than First Reported
Saudi Arabia Introduces Flexible Solutions for Expired Visas Amid Regional Disruptions
Saudi Arabia’s Online Car Market Accelerates with AI Pricing and Fully Digital Buying Experience
Saudi Arabia Reassesses Defence Strategy as Iranian Drone Threat Drives Shift in Military Partnerships
Drone Strikes Target Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain as Regional Conflict Intensifies
Japan and Saudi Arabia Align Efforts to Ease Rising Tensions with Iran
Saudi Crown Prince and Italy’s Meloni Strengthen Strategic Ties in High-Level Talks
SpaceX Explores Potential Five Billion Dollar Investment from Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund Ahead of IPO
Saudi Arabia Lifts Key Import Barriers to Expand Access for U.S. Beef Exports
Saudi Arabia Enforces Strict Travel Penalties for Visits to Restricted Countries
Italy’s Meloni Embarks on Strategic Gulf Tour to Address Energy Security and Regional Stability
Saudi Film Festival Rescheduled to Summer as Regional Tensions Continue
Saudi Arabia Reports Forty Two Point Six Billion Dollars in Foreign Tourist Spending in 2025
Saudi Crown Prince and Russian President Hold Strategic Call on Escalating Regional Crisis
Saudi Arabia Advances Rail Network as Strategic Alternative to Strait of Hormuz Shipping Route
Ruanyun Edai Launches Saudi Arabia Hub With Forecast of Ten Percent Revenue Growth
Greek Defence Minister Visits Troops in Saudi Arabia Following Successful Missile Interception
Saudi Arabia Expands Global Strategy With Focus on African Critical Minerals
SpaceX Explores Potential Five Billion Dollar Investment From Saudi Fund Ahead of Possible IPO
US Central Command Dismisses Iranian Claim of Mass Casualties Among American Personnel in Saudi Arabia
Co-Diagnostics to Establish Molecular Diagnostics Facility in Saudi Arabia Through Joint Venture
×