I met an obese Vegan in a trade show and i was surprised to hear that the guy was vegan

People from all walks of life are vegan, and they have chosen a vegan lifestyle for various reasons. Concern for animal welfare, concern for the environment, and a concern for personal health are some of the driving forces for a vegan's choices. Much literature supports that a vegan lifestyle can help with an individual's health because the diet is low in cholesterol, high in fiber, and high in vegetable/fruit intake. As with any nutritional choices, an unbalanced vegan diet can be a hindrance to the health of an individual. For example, an improperly balanced vegan diet may result in vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Fortunately, a lot of literature is available to help vegans make the correct choices in order to fulfill all of the necessary dietary requirements. By making the appropriate food choices and taking into account the aforementioned concerns, a vegan diet is considered by many to be a superior form of nutrition.

Is it possible to be vegan and unhealthy? A vegan diet can be high in sugars and carbohydrates which if consumed in excess may have damaging effects on the individual. Aside from metabolic disease and hormonal imbalances, the primary contributing factor that results in weight gain is caloric imbalance. When a person consumes excessive calories, that will translate to weight gain. Nuts are a staple in the vegan diet, but these are very high in calories so an unwatched portion can pack a powerful energy punch. It is not hard to consume an abundant amount of calories by simply popping a few handfuls of nuts. Oils are often used in cooking, and these are also high in calories. Vegans tend to have an adventurous palate. They may cook and consume coconut, palm, walnut, and rice bran oils. Although these are a source of healthy fat, they are fats nonetheless and should not be consumed in excess.
 
Soft drinks and french fries can be vegan meals, but it does not make them healthy or nutritious. As more vegan food manufacturers enter the market, we get a wider range of choices for prepared vegan meals. Many prepared meals (vegan or otherwise) contain highly processed ingredients and may not have a lot of nutrients given the number of calories the item contains. Chips, crackers, desserts, and other such meals are readily available for vegan consumption, but they may be the source of empty calories. Many vegan ice creams are at par, if not better than, traditional dairy ice creams. It is apparent that, vegan or not, ice cream is not a wise choice for anyone looking to lose weight. Unnecessary liquid calories from juices, soda, or alcohol, are easy to consume and easy to forget. It is not uncommon for excess calories to be consumed in liquid form, and any excess calories will result in weight gain.
 
Vegans still need to adhere to the same rules as non-vegans when it comes to weight maintenance. They need to consume small meals throughout the day. They need to keep their calorie intake and expenditure in balance, and they need to have well balanced nutritious foods that meet the dietary needs of the individual. A vegan lifestyle does not automatically mean an active lifestyle. Vegans may be just as inactive as  their non-vegan counterparts. An exercise regimen must be included to help with weight control and in order to gain the benefits of physical activity.

Manny Escalante, Jr. MA, ATC, CPT