No, it won’t automatically make you lose weight. It all depends on the food you eat and the calories it has. Some people choose vegetarianism because they believe a plant based diet is healthier than one that focuses on meat, which is known to be high in saturated fat and cholesterol. The belief that a vegetarian diet will aid weight loss is a myth, most likely based on the stereotype of the thin, waif-like vegetarian. There’s no guarantee that a plant based diet will really help anyone lose weight. Weight is about calories in and calories out. Although certain types of food are more calorie dense - pound for pound, for example, beef contains more calories than broccoli - it’s possible to eat too many calories of any food. Choosing a vegetarian diet doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll consume fewer calories, which is a key component for losing weight. There are plenty of high-calorie vegetarian foods. For the lacto-ovo vegetarian, foods such as eggs, cheese and milk can be packed with calories. Even vegans - who shun all animal products - can eat their fill of pasta, potatoes, bread and some sugary sweets. There are vegetarian and vegan versions of brownies, cupcakes, cookies, doughnuts and pies. Choosing vegetarianism does not eliminate these treats from your diet. Studies have found that losing a significant amount of weight - and keeping it off - generally requires a regular exercise program. And that has nothing to do with what you eat.
If you’re thinking about adopting a vegetarian diet to assist with your weight loss endeavors, you’ll still need to limit high calorie foods (like cupcakes and doughnuts), and you should try to eat more whole foods (like fruits and veggies). By doing this, you will be able to drop a few pounds on a vegetarian diet. Substituting fruits and veges for fatty meats is a great lifechoice in my opinion. Eating a vegetarian diet is a great choice to me, just be careful what you eat …
——–
I’m not sure, to be honest. I think eating more vegetables (compared to junk food) couldn’t hurt. However, I work with a man who is 340 lbs, and he’s been a vegetarian for the past 30 years, so they are not always these small waiffy things.