Vegan Teens More Active Than Their Meat-Eating Peers, Study Finds

Plant-based eating has gained significant traction among young people, not only for ethical and environmental reasons, but also for health and lifestyle motives. A recent large-scale study conducted in Austria has quantified these trends among children and adolescents aged 10–19, revealing that teens following a vegan diet are significantly more active in their leisure time than their meat-eating peers.

In this article, we explore the findings, their implications for teen health and education, and what they may mean for families considering, or already following, a plant-based lifestyle.

Why Diet Patterns Matter in Adolescence

Adolescence (roughly ages 10–19) is a critical life stage for establishing lifelong patterns of diet, physical activity, and health behaviour. According to the World Health Organization, the habits developed in this period, such as diet and exercise, often set the trajectory for adult health.

The higher activity levels observed among vegan teens may reflect an overall pattern of health-promoting behaviours during this formative stage rather than a direct effect of diet.

Overview of the Study

The study, titled “Difference in Motives and Basic Health Behavior of 8,799 Children and Adolescents Aged 10–19 Years Following a Vegan, Vegetarian, or Omnivorous Diet” (Wirnitzer K.C. et al., 2025), investigated motivations and health behaviours – including physical activity, sports participation, and fruit and vegetable intake – among Austrian secondary-school students.

Key details:

• Sample size: 8,799 adolescents (mean age ~15.1 years)
• Diet groups: 1.6% vegan, 5.6% vegetarian, 92.8% omnivorous
• Methods: Cross-sectional design using multi-level cluster sampling of secondary schools in Austria
• Survey data: Information collected on diet type, motivations (e.g. health, sports performance, animal welfare), leisure-time physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, and smoking/alcohol behaviours
• Study limitation: As the study was cross-sectional, it captures associations at one point in time and cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships; meaning that while being vegan is associated with increased physical activity, it is yet unproven whether being vegan is the cause.

Key Findings: Vegan Teens Lead in Activity and Diet

Most participants (82%) regularly engaged in leisure-time sports. Here are some of the most striking findings from the study:

• Among diet groups, the vegan subgroup reported the highest prevalence of regular physical activity (86.6%).
• Vegan teens were active across more days of the week (3.4 ± 1.2 days/week) than omnivorous peers.
• Daily fruit intake was highest among vegan students (81.7%), compared to vegetarian pupils 72.4% and omnivores 65.4%.
• Daily vegetable intake among the vegan students was 80.3%, 84.2% for the vegetarians and the lowest was 62.4% for the omnivores.
• Motivations differed: while “health” was the top motive overall, “sports performance” was a leading reason among the vegan group (20.1%).

These results indicate that vegan adolescents in this Austrian study engaged in more favourable health behaviours, both in diet and activity, than their omnivorous peers. It’s worth noting that average activity levels for all groups still fell short of the daily 60-minute recommendation for adolescents.

Why Might Vegan Teens Be More Active and Healthier?

Several factors could help explain these findings:

1. Increased Motivation 

Teens who choose a vegan diet may already have higher health awareness, valuing sports performance and lifestyle wellness, which naturally translates into greater physical activity. The study found that sports performance was a significant motivator in the vegan subgroup.

2. Social and Peer Influence

A plant-based lifestyle can form part of a positive identity among youth; one that includes fitness, wellness, and compassion. The researchers noted that for some students, being vegan was even seen as “cool,” helping to reinforce active, health-conscious habits.

3. Supportive School Environments

Austrian schools are increasingly incorporating vegan meal options and health-promotion frameworks, creating environments that support both plant-based eating and active living.

Implications for Schools, Families and Youth

For Schools and Policy Makers

The findings support a dual approach of promoting both healthy eating and active living (the “HEAL” framework) in school environments.

• Integrating plant-based nutrition and physical activity education can help instill lifelong healthy habits.
• Ensuring that plant-based meal options are available and appealing encourages inclusion and may help boost student wellbeing.
• School-based programs can highlight how nutrition and movement go hand in hand – such as through cooking workshops, active lunch breaks, or sports clubs.

For Families and Teens

For vegan teens (and indeed all teens), a well-planned plant-based diet supports, and may even enhance, active lifestyles.

• Planning is key: ensure adequate protein and essential nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and vitamin D.
• Encourage both regular leisure-time activity (whether through sport, movement, or recreation), and a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
• For teens considering a shift to veganism, the study provides positive insights showing that plant-based eaters tend to lead active and health-conscious lives.

Conclusion

The growing body of research on plant-based diets in youth now extends beyond nutrition and ethics into lifestyle and physical activity. The vegan teens in the Austrian study reported higher levels of physical activity and healthier eating habits compared with their omnivorous peers.

The findings suggest that young people who follow a plant-based diet may also engage in other health-conscious behaviours.

Thus, the message is clear: diet and movement go hand in hand. For health-minded families, educators, and teens themselves, integrating both elements offers a promising pathway toward long-term wellbeing.