University of Leeds research, published in the journal BMC Medicine, found that women who regularly ate meat had slightly healthier hip bones. Of the 26,318 women, 822 had a hip fracture over 2 years—more than 3 percent of the sample population. After adjusting for factors such as age, vegetarians were the only group with an increased risk of hip fracture, it said.
This study is one of very few studies comparing the risk of hip fracture in vegetarians and meat eaters. Scientists stress the need for research to provide information on the exact reasons why vegetarians are at higher risk of hip fracture.
Are vegetarian diets healthy? Unhealthy?
James Webster, a PhD researcher at the School of Food Science and Nutrition in Leeds, said: ‘Our study highlights the potential risk of hip fracture in vegetarian women. However, it does not warn people to give up vegetarian food. As with any diet, it’s important to understand individual circumstances and understand what nutrients each person needs for a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
Vegetarian diets vary widely from person to person. Vegetarian diets that include animal products can sometimes be healthy or unhealthy. However, vegetarian diets are often low in nutrients related to bone and muscle health. These types of nutrients are generally higher in meat and other animal products than in plants, such as protein, calcium and other micronutrients.
Growing popularity of plant-based foods:
It is no exaggeration to say that vegetarian diets have gained popularity in recent years. A 2021 YouGov survey puts the vegetarian population in England at approximately 5 to 7 percent. With previous evidence showing vegetarian diets reduce the risks of many chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer, it is often considered a healthy dietary option.
There is also a global call to reduce the consumption of animal products in an effort to tackle climate change. Therefore, understanding the risk of hip fracture in vegetarians is becoming increasingly important for public health.
Evidence for links to hip fracture risk in plant-based diets is lacking. This study addresses the long-term risks of plant-based diets and what can be done to reduce those risks.
Consequences of low BMI:
The research team found that the average BMI of vegetarians was slightly lower than the average of regular meat eaters. Previous research has shown an association between a low BMI and an increased risk of hip fracture.
A low BMI means people are underweight. They say further study is needed to determine whether a lower BMI is responsible for the increased risk in vegetarians.
The Leeds researchers say further research is needed to confirm whether similar results can be found in men, to examine the role of body weight and to identify reasons for the different outcomes in vegetarians and meat eaters.
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