Start pumping iron, vegans told

VEGANS need to start lifting weights if they want healthy bones, a study claims.

Those who stick to a plant-based diet and do strength training, rather than other forms of exercise such as cycling or swimming, may have stronger bones than other vegans, it suggests.

A team from the Medical University of Vienna looked at data from 43 men and women who had been vegan for at least five years. Those who did resistance training such as using machines, free weights or bodyweight resistance exercises at least once a week had stronger bones than those who did not, the results, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, found.

Last year, a study revealed vegan children grow up shorter with weaker bones than those who eat meat.