Recent data suggests that the American obesity epidemic may be on the downturn, according to a study released last week by US government officials. Although one-third of the population remains obese, this figure has plateaued, indicating a halt in the number of people developing obesity. It’s been proven that excess weight is one of the primary contributors to early-onset diabetes and cardiovascular disease—a 2009 study found that participants assigned to eat processed meats, such as lunch meats or hot dogs, experienced a 41 percent jump in their risk of developing diabetes, while people who adhered to a plant-based diet were 50 percent less likely to develop the disease.