Economic concept

Short-term proxy

An early measure such as appetite, energy, weight or a blood marker that may not predict every long-term outcome.

Why can vegans and high-protein meat eaters both feel better?

Both groups can genuinely feel better because they may start from different baselines and change many things besides animal-food intake. Either diet can increase meal planning, protein or fibre adequacy, reduce particular highly processed foods, alter energy intake and remove foods a person tolerates poorly. Short-term wellbeing is real evidence about that person, but it does not by itself identify the active ingredient or establish long-term health superiority.