Let’s break down what the articles about @schwarzenegger got right:

Yes, plant-based or plant-predominant diets can reduce cholesterol. There are some really robust randomised controlled studies going back more than 30 years backing this up.

What’s not quite right in the media coverage:

1. Using the term “vegan” here in the various media that covered this seems to be more for clickbait than accuracy. Just going “vegan” isn’t enough to make you healthier. The term vegan is usually associated with those who cut out all animal products for ideological reasons. For plant-based diets to improve your health, they have to be healthy plant-based diets (swapping your Cadbury’s for plant-based Cadbury’s isn’t much of a healthy step.)

2. Diet is only part of what is needed. In the articles covering this story, only a few gave a nod to the other factors that helped reduce his cholesterol such as the fact that he does physical exercise 6 days a week. And he undoubtedly did this with expert input to be so successful (unlike many, he could afford access to qualified care).

3. So what is the difference between plant-based or plant-predominant diet and “80% vegan” diet? whole food plant based (WFPB) diets are widely recommended by doctors and dietitians around the world. They allow small amounts of animal products, focus on avoiding processed foods, and the emphasis is on includingfoods – as many whole grains, vegetables, plant-based proteins as opposed to lists of excluded foods (so, yes, occasional steak as a treat is allowed, just like stated in the the article)

WFPB diets are an important part of managing chronic disease like diabetes, reducing risk or heart disease or stroke,, or improving health, including PCOS or subfertility.

So, why AREN’T we talking more about #WFPB diets and overall #lifestylemedicine managment of chronic disease and reducing risk? See previous post if you missed it for a deeper dive. Lifestyle medicine is an important cornerstone of what doctors should have time and resources to provide.