Meat Eaters Rejoice: Vegetarianism Doesn't Lower Risk of Premature Death

That's according to researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia who tracked nearly a quarter million adults aged 45 and older for an average of six years.

In a report published in in the journal Preventive Medicine, there were no significant differences in the likelihood of dying, of any death, between those who followed a complete, semi- (meat once a week or less) or pesco- (fish permitted) vegetarian diet, and regular meat eaters.

Their report has been described as described as the largest study of healthy aging in the Southern Hemisphere.

Also, vegans were categorized as vegetarians.

However, there is some good news for veggie-eaters.

The study found that vegetarians were less likely to smoke, drink excessively, or be overweight or obese. They were also less likely to report having heart disease or cancer at the start of the study.

Co-author Dr. Seema Mihrshahi, a senior research fellow at the University of Sydney, said:

"It's important to note that the news is not that bad for vegetarians — they basically have much healthier lifestyle behaviors than non-vegetarians."

Indeed, earlier studies, including by researchers at the Oxford of University, who published a report in 2013, found that the risk of hospitalization or death from heart disease is 32% lower in vegetarians than people who eat meat and fish.

Social media reaction the report has been varied with some pointing out that people go vegetarian for lots of reasons, including animal welfare and helping reduce humanity's negative impact on the environment.

And with vegetarianism becoming an increasingly visible consumer trend in restaurants, cafes and supermarkets in the Western world, while vegetarians may not live any longer, their food habits seem here to stay.