Lizzo has not gone vegan to lose weight — “I just feel better when I eat plants”

More people are making the shift to vegan diets. In a recent post, we discussed that this growing popularity of plant-based food can be observed in the rising sales of vegan meats as well as plant-based versions of dairy products such as butter, yoghurt, and ice cream. There is even a 35% increase in the sales of plant-based milk alternatives.

More interestingly, the preference for plant-based food is being influenced by a growing emphasis on health among the British population. A recent survey from the BBC found that out of 1,040 British citizens, 49% are vegan to improve their health. The same piece mentions that well-known celebrities like Ariana Grande, Natalie Portman, and Jessica Chastain are spearheading efforts to encourage more people to go vegan through their high-profile social platforms.

One of the most influential celebrities in the plant-based sphere is the acclaimed musician Lizzo — who hasn’t gone vegan for weight loss – instead, she’s done it because she loves healthy food. Read on to learn more about Lizzo’s fresh perspective and how it debunks certain myths surrounding veganism:

Gaining a New Perspective on Veganism with Lizzo

In an interview, Lizzo explains that her dedication to a vegan lifestyle is fuelled by her love for food and everything plant-based, stating: “I just feel better when I eat plants.” She brings this energy to her social media by teaching her 21 million TikTok followers how to create vegan iterations of dishes like the cheesy Takis and chicken alfredo.

In both videos, Lizzo turns the discussion around veganism into one that places more emphasis on health than one’s figure. Rather than eating vegan food to control your weight, she advocates plant-based options because it allows you to eat more without worrying about your health. Yet beyond this, Lizzo steers the discourse on veganism toward calling out the fatphobia that underlies toxic weight loss. The post features Lizzo in underwear, eating a vegan egg sandwich. The caption goes, “[Shout out] to all my fat vegans – we look as good as we feel…” This tribute to fat vegans is a reminder that veganism doesn’t instantly result in weight loss, nor should it be done solely for shedding pounds.

Debunking the Myth of Weight Loss and Veganism

The first and most popular myth is that veganism ensures weight loss. However, this isn’t necessarily true. After all, not all plant-based foods are healthy or weight-loss friendly. For example, potato chips are vegan because they contain only salt, potatoes, and vegetable oil. However, these are bad for your health because their high sodium content can lead to heart and kidney complications. They are also highly-processed food that can cause you to gain weight. Even if desserts, frozen meals, and potato chips are vegan, eating too much of these can cause you to gain weight. See @reneestakeyreal on TikTok

Even cutting-edge weight loss plans that offer meat-free, plant-based recipes emphasise that a vegan lifestyle can make weight loss easier — but not necessarily guaranteed. After all, there’s still big-picture nutrition to consider. This includes habits such as water intake, sleep, and exercise. In the end, weight loss is more about observing a lifestyle with healthy habits. A plant-based diet is just one such habit that can help you on your weight loss journey.

Moreover, vegan diets alone cannot work effectively against the weight gain that certain medical conditions may cause. For instance, individuals with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) experience hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance that can lead to weight gain. If you want to learn how vegan diets can help you manage PCOS symptoms, it’s best to consult your doctor.

A lot of optimism surrounds veganism as a trend. Yet as long-time vegan slash musician Lizzo exemplifies, for the movement to last, plant-based diets must start with a personal desire to eat — and feel — healthier.

Article written by Alice Penelope Cross