Studies showing lower body mass index for vegetarians than non-vegetarians suggest that a vegetarian diet may be an approach for weight management. The purpose of this study was to compare nutrient intakes of vegetarians, non-vegetarians, and dieters to show that a vegetarian diet does not compromise nutrient intake. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004) data were analyzed for persons 19 years of age and older. Vegetarians were those who did not report eating meat, poultry, or fish. Dieters were those who consumed 500 kilocalories less than estimated energy requirements. Adjusted means for fiber, vitamins E, A, and C, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium were higher for vegetarians than for non-vegetarians. Niacin, vitamin B12, and zinc were lower for the vegetarians; however, only zinc was below the Recommended Dietary Allowance. These findings suggest that a vegetarian diet can be recommended for weight management without compromising nutrient intake.
","abstract_html":"<p>Studies showing lower body mass index for vegetarians than non-vegetarians suggest that a vegetarian diet may be an approach for weight management. The purpose of this study was to compare nutrient intakes of vegetarians, non-vegetarians, and dieters to show that a vegetarian diet does not compromise nutrient intake. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004) data were analyzed for persons 19 years of age and older. Vegetarians were those who did not report eating meat, poultry, or fish. Dieters were those who consumed 500 kilocalories less than estimated energy requirements. Adjusted means for fiber, vitamins E, A, and C, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium were higher for vegetarians than for non-vegetarians. Niacin, vitamin B12, and zinc were lower for the vegetarians; however, only zinc was below the Recommended Dietary Allowance. These findings suggest that a vegetarian diet can be recommended for weight management without compromising nutrient intake.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Farmer, Bonnie"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Health Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["George Liepa PhD, FACN, FAOCS, Chair","Alice Jo Rainville, PhD, RD","Brian Larson, PhD"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2009-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:30Z","subjects":["Nutrition Evaluation","Vegetarianism Health aspects","Body mass index","Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition","Medicine and Health Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/150","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["George Liepa PhD, FACN, FAOCS, Chair","Alice Jo Rainville, PhD, RD","Brian Larson, PhD"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Farmer, Bonnie"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Health Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Nutrition Evaluation","Vegetarianism Health aspects","Body mass index","Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition","Medicine and Health Sciences"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/150"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Studies showing lower body mass index for vegetarians than non-vegetarians suggest that a vegetarian diet may be an approach for weight management. The purpose of this study was to compare nutrient intakes of vegetarians, non-vegetarians, and dieters to show that a vegetarian diet does not compromise nutrient intake. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004) data were analyzed for persons 19 years of age and older. Vegetarians were those who did not report eating meat, poultry, or fish. Dieters were those who consumed 500 kilocalories less than estimated energy requirements. Adjusted means for fiber, vitamins E, A, and C, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium were higher for vegetarians than for non-vegetarians. Niacin, vitamin B12, and zinc were lower for the vegetarians; however, only zinc was below the Recommended Dietary Allowance. These findings suggest that a vegetarian diet can be recommended for weight management without compromising nutrient intake.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Comparison of nutrient intakes for vegetarians, non-vegetarians, and dieters: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["George Liepa PhD, FACN, FAOCS, Chair","Alice Jo Rainville, PhD, RD","Brian Larson, PhD"],"dc:creator":["Farmer, Bonnie"],"dc:description.abstract":["Studies showing lower body mass index for vegetarians than non-vegetarians suggest that a vegetarian diet may be an approach for weight management. The purpose of this study was to compare nutrient intakes of vegetarians, non-vegetarians, and dieters to show that a vegetarian diet does not compromise nutrient intake. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004) data were analyzed for persons 19 years of age and older. Vegetarians were those who did not report eating meat, poultry, or fish. Dieters were those who consumed 500 kilocalories less than estimated energy requirements. Adjusted means for fiber, vitamins E, A, and C, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium were higher for vegetarians than for non-vegetarians. Niacin, vitamin B12, and zinc were lower for the vegetarians; however, only zinc was below the Recommended Dietary Allowance. These findings suggest that a vegetarian diet can be recommended for weight management without compromising nutrient intake.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/150"],"dc:subject":["Nutrition Evaluation","Vegetarianism Health aspects","Body mass index","Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition","Medicine and Health Sciences"],"dc:title":["Comparison of nutrient intakes for vegetarians, non-vegetarians, and dieters: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Health Sciences"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:30Z"}