Eating habits among women with insulin resistance (IR) on a vegetarian vs non-vegetarian diet

Abstract

Background. Insulin resistance is one of the major metabolic disorders. The composition of one’s diet has a crucial effect on the risk of developing this disorder and is a key component of treatment. Following a vegetarian diet seems to be promising for health benefits. Objectives. The aim of the study is to assess the eating habits of women suffering from insulin resistance following vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets. Material and methods. The survey was conducted among 248 women between the age of 18 to 64 in Poland from January to March 2022. The research tool was a website survey questionnaire. The analysis was performed using the Statistica 10 program. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using the chi-square test. Results were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05. Results. Women on a vegetarian diet had the correct body weight more often (47.4%) compared to those following a traditional diet (40.5%) or not following any diet (38.5%). 69.3% of vegetarians assessed their nutritional knowledge as better than good. Women on a plant-based diet included legumes in their diet and consumed vegetables much more often than others. Attitudes towards plant-based meat substitutes and plant-based dairy substitutes were significantly more positive among vegetarians than others. Conclusions. Women with insulin resistance on a vegetarian diet often have better nutritional choices compared to women on a traditional diet or those not following any diet. These promising findings may be helpful in preventing and treating this disorder. However, the amount of research and results is insufficient and requires further analyses on a larger group of subjects.