Plant-Based Meal Replacement and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adults with Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Obesity increasingly drives dyslipidaemia, hypertension, and dysglycaemia worldwide. Objective: To synthesise
evidence on plant-based meal replacements (PBMRs) as a strategy for weight and cardiometabolic risk reduction in adults with
obesity. Methods: Narrative review of published randomised trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and mechanistic
studies retrieved from PubMed, Crossref, and Europe PMC. Findings: PBMRs produce clinically meaningful reductions in body
weight, LDL-cholesterol, blood pressure, and glycaemic markers, comparable to or exceeding conventional meal replacements.
Conclusions: PBMRs represent a scalable, evidence-supported adjunct to cardiometabolic risk management, though long-term
adherence data remain limited.