Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Why being a vegetarian woman may be bad for your health later in life

Why being a vegetarian woman may be bad for your health later in life

A plant-based diet might be good for your general health, as well as the planet - but scientists are warning that vegetarian women are more susceptible to hip fractures later in life than those who regularly eat meat and fish.

Hip fractures - a problem which is most common in elderly women - can be extremely debilitating, with most patients unable to stand or walk.

This kind of fracture is three times more common in elderly women than men, in part because women lose bone density much faster than ageing men. But even among women, some are more at risk of suffering hip fractures.

Researchers at the University of Leeds in the UK found that, among 26,318 meat-eating, pescetarian and vegetarian women aged 35-69 surveyed, 822 had suffered a hip fracture.

After adjusting the data to take into consideration factors like smoking and age (vegetarians and pescetarians were generally younger, possibly because these diets have become more popular in recent times), researchers found that vegetarian women had a 33 per cent higher risk of hip fractures than regular meat-eaters (those eating meat at least five times a week).


Vegetarian diets 'can be healthy or unhealthy'


In the study published in the journal BMC Medicine, researchers admit not knowing the exact reason why women following plant-based diets are more at risk of hip fractures, but they speculate that this might be because those women are taking in lower amounts of important nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12.

But that doesn’t mean a plant-based diet isn’t good for people, nor that the scientists at the University of Leeds are saying women should ditch a vegetarian diet.

"Vegetarian diets can vary widely from person to person and can be healthy or unhealthy, just like diets that include animal products," the study’s lead author James Webster, a doctoral researcher from the School of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds, said.

"Our study highlights potential concerns regarding the risk of hip fracture in women who follow a vegetarian diet.

"However, it is not warning people to abandon vegetarian diets. As with any diet, it is important to understand personal circumstances and what nutrients are needed for a balanced healthy lifestyle".


Lower BMI contributes to fractures


Webster said it’s concerning that vegetarian diets lack nutrients which are linked with bone and muscle health, which are normally more abundant in animal products, but suggests that the solution should be more research into the relation between hip fracture and a vegetarian diet.

"Low intake of these nutrients can lead to lower bone mineral density and muscle mass, which can make you more susceptible to hip fracture risk," he said. "This makes it especially important for further research to better understand factors driving the increased risk in vegetarians, whether it be particular nutrient deficiencies or weight management so that we can help people to make healthy choices".

Researchers also found vegetarian women to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than meat-eaters and pescetarians, which they suggest might mean vegetarian women have less fat to act as a cushion and protect their bones during a fall - the cause of 90 per cent of hip fractures.


What can vegetarian women do to improve their bone health?


Though more research is needed into why vegetarian women are more at risk of hip fractures, the study suggests women on plant-based diets avoid being underweight, fortify their diet with nutrients like B12 and omega-3 fatty acids and maintain a physically active life to improve their bone health.

To reduce their risk of hip fracture, Webster suggests that vegetarians can:

- Maintain a healthy body weight;

- Eat a balanced diet high in whole grains, nuts, legumes, beans, and eggs/milk (unless you are vegan);

- Consider eating fortified foods, for example, cereals with added micronutrients, such as B vitamins, iron, and protein, or, for vegans, milk alternatives fortified with calcium and vitamin D;

- Consider supplementing vitamin B12 and omega-3s – an easy, inexpensive added precaution;

- Avoid smoking and consuming alcohol excessively;

- Exercise regularly.

"There are many benefits of the vegetarian diet, including health, environmental, and ethical aspects, that should be considered alongside our finding of a greater risk of hip fracture in vegetarians," said Webster. "Other studies show a reduced risk of other chronic diseases, such as some cancers, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease".

A plant-based diet is also estimated to be the best change you can make in your life to cut your greenhouse gas emission while eating less meat on a global level could have a profound impact on fighting back against the climate crisis.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
Intel Reports Revenue Beats but Sees 81% Rise in Losses
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2: A New Open-Source AI Model
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
×