One Man’s Journey to a Plant-Based Lifestyle

Eric Young’s journey to better health, which he shared on Forks over Knives, began in his 20s and 30s, when his weight steadily increased, reaching 250 pounds by the age of 35. Standing at five-foot-eight, this put him in the obese category, and various diets, particularly low-carb ones, failed to provide lasting results. By his 40s, his weight peaked at 270 pounds.

At 50, Eric discovered the “Forks Over Knives” documentary, which made him reconsider his dietary choices. The film highlighted health issues similar to those his family faced, including his father’s battle with Type 2 diabetes. Motivated to avoid a similar fate, Eric adopted a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet and initially lost 50 pounds, but he eventually reverted to old habits and regained weight.

In October 2019, facing a weight close to 270 pounds again, Eric’s health was in serious decline. He was on medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease (stage 3), sleep apnea, low testosterone, arthritis, and bone spurs. Feeling overwhelmed by these ailments, Eric decided to make a change.

Eric switched to a vegan diet, minimizing oil and processed foods. This change quickly paid off, with significant improvements in his health. His blood pressure normalized, allowing him to discontinue medication, his cholesterol levels improved, and he lost weight. Over two years, Eric’s weight dropped to 175 pounds.

In November 2022, Eric fully committed to a WFPB diet, eliminating oil and ultra-processed foods. This final shift resulted in an additional 20-pound weight loss, bringing him down to 153 pounds. His health improvements were remarkable: he reversed his chronic kidney disease to stage 1, achieved remission from autoimmune hepatitis, normalized his testosterone levels, and eliminated sleep apnea symptoms.

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