Introduction: Dietary factors play a significant role in the accumulation of body fat. Plant-based diets are characterized by a reduction or elimination of animal product consumption and are believed to exert beneficial effects concerning the incidence and clinical course of different chronic diseases, especially those related to overweight and obesity. Despite the consistency by which plant-based diets are associated with reduced body composition, the clinical reality and the mechanisms by which this occurs have not yet been well-defined. Aims/ Objectives: To examine the total body composition differences among vegetarians-vegans and omnivorous individuals. Methods: The present study was a pilot and cross-sectional analysis of a university student sample consisting of 12 healthy individuals, 6 vegetarian-vegan, and 6 omnivores. The mean age of the study population was 27 years old, and 83% were women. Body composition was assessed using a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA Lunar Prodigy Advance – General Electric Healthcare®), and dietary habits were collected using a Food Frequency Questionnaire and a 3-day dietary recall. Other general and descriptive variables were also collected by trained dietitians, including weight, height, abdominal circumference, smoking status, sleeping hours, intestinal and urinary rhythm, physical activity practice, among others. All individuals gave their informed and written consent to participate in the study prior to data collection. All procedures respected the principles of good clinical practice adopted for human research studies. Statistical analysis (descriptive and regression analysis) was performed using SPSS software. All statistical tests were two-tailed and the significance level was set at p0.05). However, these vegetarian-vegan participants also presented consistently higher values (p-value>0.05) of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) (281.00 and 1025.00 cm3, respectively) compared to those omnivores (219.17 and 831.00 cm3, respectively). SAT and VAT are two structurally and functionally distinct fat depositories playing major mechanical, protective and regulatory roles. VAT is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, while SAT seems to prevent and improve type 2 diabetes. No other differences were observed for weight, height, BMI, smoking status, physical activity, or other general characteristics that could influence the observed results. Conclusions: Higher levels of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue were found in this vegetarian-vegan group.  Other studies are needed to better understand the significance of this finding.