We recently updated our information on vegan children with a 2019 study from Germany that found no significant difference in weight-for-age, height-for-age, or weight-for-height scores between vegan, vegetarian, and nonvegetarian children.
Five vegan children and three vegetarian children were classified as stunted based on their height-for-age. Stunting could be explained by factors such as low parental height, low caloric intake, or being exclusively breastfed for too long. None of these factors is unique to a vegan or vegetarian diet.
Overall, this study indicates that a vegan diet supports normal growth in childhood.
References
Weder S, Hoffmann M, Becker K, Alexy U, Keller M. Energy, macronutrient intake, and anthropometrics of vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous children (1-3 Years) in Germany (VeChi Diet Study). Nutrients. 2019 Apr 12;11(4).
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