Researchers at the University of Leicester are looking for 450 people willing to ditch meat in 2026 as they explore how vegetarian and vegan diets can affect our long‑term health.
The researchers, based at the Leicester Diabetes Centre, would like to hear from people who are living with overweight or obesity, aged between 18 and 50, who currently eat meat at least five days a week to take part.
Professor of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Health at the University of Leicester, Tom Yates said: “This study would suit anyone who has been wondering whether ditching meat could be beneficial to their health, and is happy to commit to changing their diet for 12 months. Not only will participants receive supermarket vouchers over the course of the study to help support food costs, they will also receive regular guidance from trained dietitians, cooking classes and in-depth health checks at study visits.”
Through £1.95 million funding from the Chellaram Foundation, the landmark Plant Your Health study, led by the University of Leicester’s Professors Tom Yates and Kamlesh Khunti, will evaluate the health effects of adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet among overweight and obese younger adults.
Over 12 months, the 450 participants will be supported as they follow either a vegetarian diet (excluding meat and fish, but including dairy and eggs), a strict vegan diet, or continue with their usual diet.
Measures of their health including LDL-cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, body composition as well as psychological wellbeing, and their dietary carbon footprints will be measured.
Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, Kamlesh Khunti added: “We are all incredibly excited to be embarking on this landmark study, investigating a large number of important health measures and whether they are affected by vegan or vegetarian diets. We are thankful to the Chellaram Foundation for their contribution to this work, and look forward to welcoming people onto the study. Recruitment will allow for both self-referral and invitation from primary care. Through a further strand of this work, we aim to produce globally relevant evidence that informs public health policy, dietary guidelines, and supports healthier, more sustainable nutrition at the population level.”
Professor Louise Goff, lead Dietitian, noted: “Although we know plant-based nutrition provides health benefits over the short term, there are a lack of well conducted research studies over the longer-term in sufficient numbers. This study is the largest trial on plant-based nutrition to date and will provide the gold standard evidence needed to inform public health”
The Chellaram Foundation stated: “We at the Chellaram Foundation are very happy to be a partner for this upcoming randomised controlled trial on vegetarianism and cardiovascular health in obese and overweight people.
“This study will use a rigorous clinical design to provide clear evidence on a vegetarian diet from a healthcare perspective. This research represents an essential step in understanding how compassionate food choices can create a more sustainable world.”
If you would like to be part of the study, please express your interest by emailing
uhl-tr.plantyourhealth@nhs.net or visiting
www.leicesterdiabetescentre.org.uk/research-blog/plant-your-health-research