Human study · Nutrition · 5 Nov 2026
In 33,532 US adults, a more plant-forward diet lined up with lower BMI and lower odds of obesity and diabetes
Source: Preventing Chronic Disease
What the research found
Preventing Chronic Disease published a repeated cross-sectional analysis on 5 November 2026. Lov used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2009 through 2023 on 33,532 adults ages 18 and older. Plant-forward diet scores came from the mean of two 24-hour food recalls and were split into thirds. In survey-weighted models that adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, dietary, and behavior factors, people in the higher plant-forward group had lower body mass index (beta −1.45, 95 percent confidence interval −1.82 to −1.09), lower odds of obesity (adjusted odds ratio 0.70, 95 percent confidence interval 0.62 to 0.79), and lower odds of diabetes (adjusted odds ratio 0.72, 95 percent confidence interval 0.62 to 0.84). Prediabetes was not clearly lower (adjusted odds ratio 0.92, 95 percent confidence interval 0.82 to 1.04). This is an observational diet pattern. It did not assign anyone a meal plan. DOI 10.5888/pcd23.260232. Not medical advice.
Evidence level: Human study. A study in people, but an association isn't proof of cause.
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