In the wake of reports from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that Australia now ranks as the world’s fifth-fattest nation, I have something for people to chew on: vegans are nine times less likely to be obese than meat-eaters are. Eating vegan meals has been scientifically proved to take weight off and keep it off for more than a year, so I suggest that those worried about their weight consider tipping any meat that they have in their refrigerators directly into the rubbish.
The 60 per cent of adult Australians defined as overweight or obese can not only lose weight but also dramatically improve their health by replacing sausage rolls and meat pies with cereals and veggie kebabs. Because meat, eggs and dairy products are devoid of fibre but loaded with artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol, eating plant-based meals slashes people’s risk of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and cancer.
The meat industry isn’t just toxic for human health – it’s also responsible for animal suffering on a massive scale. On today’s factory farms, animals are crammed by the thousands into filthy windowless sheds.
Let’s turn the race for the fattest nation into the race for the fittest one by switching to healthy and humane vegan meals.
Ashley Fruno, PETA, Sydney
