Eating Disorders: The Dark Side of Vegetarianism?

[plam]

For me vegetarianism and especially veganism
have always been clear signs of eating disorders
but it's good to see it officially published.

The world health organisation has also recently
included vegetarianism as a mental disorder.

Eating Disorders: The Dark Side of Vegetarianism?

I don't know if Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin are bitches, but judging by the cover photo on their book, they are skinny. Rory (a former model) and Kim (a modeling agent) are the authors of Skinny Bitch -- "a no-nonsense tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous!" Rule number one: quit eating meat.

Going veg is sensible advice. In my view, the case against eating animals is strong on moral, environmental, and health grounds. But a woman named Staci Giani made me wonder whether there is sometimes a dark side to giving up meat. Staci is a thirty-something ex-vegetarian who lives in an eco-community an hour south of Asheville. I interviewed her for the chapter on the human-meat relationship in my book new book, Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It Is So Hard To Think Straight About Animals.


Things were going fine until I asked Staci why she quit eating meat in the first place. She said that she became a vegetarian when she was a teenager. Then she dropped the bombshell: "My vegetarianism was tied up with my eating disorder."

She went on: "Being a vegetarian was a way for me to have more control over my body by taking the fat out of my diet. Fat was the big evil. Emotionally I was in a tough position in my life at seventeen. Vegetarianism gave me something to hold onto."
Looking back on her own experience, Stacy thinks that for some women, giving up meat is not so much a matter of ethics but a politically acceptable form of extreme weight control.

What she said made my head spin. I know a lot of long-term vegetarians, and while I eat meat, I have always thought their life-style was admirable.

What the Research Says About Vegetarianism and Disordered Eating

As soon as I returned home from our interview, I pulled up Google Scholar on my computer and typed "vegetarianism" and "eating disorders" into the search bar. In a millisecond, a slew of scientific studies popped up. I have listed many of them at the end of this blog. But to save you the trouble of digging them up, here is brief summary of what they reported:

-Female college vegetarians are more likely than meat eaters to feel guilty after they eat, be more preoccupied with being thin, and are more likely to use laxatives, extreme exercise, and vomiting to lose weight.

-Teenage and adult vegetarians are four times as likely as omnivores to engage in binge eating.

-Vegetarian adolescents in both Turkey and Australia show greater concern over their appearance and engage in more extreme eating behaviors than meat-eaters.

-Finnish vegetarian women have higher levels of depression and lower levels of self-esteem than non-vegetarians.

-College students who avoid meat are more obsessed with their weight and diet more often than meat eaters. They are also more inclined to agree with the statement, "If given the opportunity to eliminate all my nutritional needs safely and cheaply by taking a pill, I would."

I was stunned. The next day, I mentioned my discovery to my colleague Candice Boan-Lenzo, a psychologist who has not eaten meat for fifteen years. Did she know that vegetarians are at higher risk for developing eating disorders?

"Oh yes," she says. "I tell my graduate students about it every semester."
"What do they say?" I ask.
"They don't believe me," she says.

Is The Skinny Bitch Diet Harmful To Women?

According to the Humane Research Council, there are twice as many female than male vegetarians. Several years ago, I reviewed the scientific literature on sex differences in the treatment of animals. You will not be surprised to find that, as a rule, women are more concerned about animal suffering than men. I am sure most female vegetarians give up meat out of concern for animals and the environment, not from a pathological desire to lose weight. However, there is no denying that meat-avoidance can be associated with eating problems, especially in women. (Rory and Kim even allude to the dangers of the Skinny Bitch diet, telling readers, "Don't be a fat pig anymore...But don't go anorexic on us, either.") The fact is that women are much more susceptible to eating disorders than men. Indeed, one recent study reported a female to male ratio of 9 to 1 for anorexia nervosa and 30 to 1 for bulimia nervosa.

The Skinny Bitch diet book asks readers, "Are you sick and tired of being fat?" If the answer is yes -- which it often is among teenage girls and young women -- they have the answer: Stop Eating Animals!" For some women (we don't know how many) this is bad advice. Eating disorders are serious. Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating affect eight million Americans a year. And, with a fatality rate of between five and ten percent, anorexia is among the most dangerous of psychiatric disorders.

More research is needed on the relationship between eating disorders and vegetarianism. I am still convinced that for most people, a plant-based diet is good arternative to eating animals. But it is also clear to me that that the Skinny Bitch admonition that Vegetarianism = Healthy = Skinny is, at best, simplistic and is sometimes - dead wrong.

Hal Herzog is Professor of Psychology at Western Carolina University and author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It's So Hard To Think Straight About Animals.

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Articles On The Connection Between Eating Disorders and Vegetarianism

Bas, M., Karabudak, E., & Kiziltan, G. (2005). Vegetarianism and eating disorders: Association between eating attitudes and other psychological factors among Turkish adolescents. Appetite, 44(3), 309-315.

Hormes, J. M., Catanese, D., Bauer, R, & Rozin, P. (2006). Links between meat avoidance, negative eating attitudes, and disordered eating behaviors. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association.

Klopp, S. A., Heiss, C. J., & Smith, H. S. (2003). Self-reported vegetarianism may be a marker for college women at risk for disordered eating. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 103(6), 745-747.

Lindeman, M., Stark, K., & Latvala, K. (2000). Vegetarianism and eating-disordered thinking. Eating Disorders, 8(2), 157-165.

Lindeman, M. (2002). The state of mind of vegetarians: Psychological well-being or distress. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 41, 75-86.

Martins, Y.., Pliner, P., & O'Connoer, R. (1999). Restrained eating among vegetarians" Does a vegetarian eating style mask concerns about weight? Appetite, 32, 145-154.

Neumark-Sztainer, D., Story, M., Resnick, M., & Blum, R. (1997). Adolescent vegetarians. A behavioral profile of a school-based population in Minnesota. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 151(8), 833-838.

O'Connor, M. A., Touyz, S. W., Dunn, S. M., & Beumont, P. J. (1987). Vegetarianism in anorexia nervosa? A review of 116 consecutive cases. The Medical Journal of Australia, 147(11-12), 540-542.

Robinson-O'Brian, R., Perry, C. L.,Wall, M. M., Story, M., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2009). Adolescent and young adult vegetarianism: Better dietary intake and weight outcomes but increased risk of disordered eating behaviors. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 109, 648-655.

Worsley, A., & Skrzypiec, G. (1997). Teenage vegetarianism: Beauty or the beast? Nutrition Research, 17(3), 391-404.

[hypnoticspectre]

you take too much of a scientific seat my friend
vegetarianism is about conscious growth, if you want to carry on with a catlike mentality sure, but others tend to try alternatives in life. If people end up with an eating disorder then I bet 99% of the time its a mental disclarity not because of eating veg and some dairy...

[the lost]

Originally Posted by hypnoticspectre

you take too much of a scientific seat my friend
vegetarianism is about conscious growth, if you want to carry on with a catlike mentality sure, but others tend to try alternatives in life. If people end up with an eating disorder then I bet 99% of the time its a mental disclarity not because of eating veg and some dairy...

What, mental disclarity like some yogi on the other side of the world implying that you are evil by eating meat, making you worry that you wont advance spiritually if you eat meat?

Making people feel guilty is a strong theme amongst vegans that ive noticed. I think that could cause an impressionable young teen to worry about their diet to the point of endangering their health.

I think ive seen you also state that a veggie/vegan diet is not for everyone.

Also the article isnt saying that its the 'veg and some diary' diet causing the problems.

Even your reply to plam has an type of insult just cause he chooses to eat meat.

There is no proof that abstaining from meat makes you more spiritually aware, or helps you down that path.Most people who believe in that way of thinking also believe in the power of prayer/blessings/projecting positive energy on to things, so why couldnt they 'bless' their food to make it neutral? (and maybe even 'bless' it again to make it positive).

[jconnar]

Originally Posted by the lost

There is no proof that abstaining from meat makes you more spiritually aware, or helps you down that path.

The proof is in your own personal experience.

If you don't have that experience, then you have no proof for yourself.

Eat meat because you want to eat meat.

Eat vegetables because you want to eat vegetables.

Feeling that you have to eat meat or vegetables because someone else is, or someone else has told you is just dogma/indoctrination.

[the lost]

Originally Posted by jconnar

The proof is in your own personal experience.

If you don't have that experience, then you have no proof for yourself.

Eat meat because you want to eat meat.

Eat vegetables because you want to eat vegetables.

Feeling that you have to eat meat or vegetables because someone else is, or someone else has told you is just dogma/indoctrination.

You're more likely to be forced/coerced into avoiding meat, than being made to eat it.

Maybe avoiding meat therefore missing out on nutrients causes light headedness giving a feeling of being enlightened jk

[believenothing]

Originally Posted by jconnar

The proof is in your own personal experience.

If you don't have that experience, then you have no proof for yourself.

Eat meat because you want to eat meat.

Eat vegetables because you want to eat vegetables.

Feeling that you have to eat meat or vegetables because someone else is, or someone else has told you is just dogma/indoctrination.

Agreed. The human digestive system does more closely resemble an herbivore than a carnivore, but it is still a hybrid of the two. Chimps, our 'closest relative' might be mostly vegetarian, but they will occasionally eat meat.

There are all sorts of evils going into processed foods, not just cruelty to animals although that is a big one. If you choose not to eat meat because of cruelty to animals, it won't make a difference to those animals unless you can convince a meaningful number of people's perceptions. That's nearly impossible.

Also, the people cultivating your vegetarian food might (and are most likely to) be meat eaters. Where do you draw the line? The energy company that produced the power to make those veggie burgers or whatever was probably staffed my meat eaters.

So if people want to make the choice, they should take these things into account and do not cave to third party pressure. If you want to do it for health purposes, just keep in mind that meat proteins are vital for healing and nourishment in humans. Travis Barker was a vegetarian and to heal his burns was told to eat meat for the first time in 25 years and it worked. I've read articles that he lives a vegan lifestyle referencing his accident, but these might even be taken out of context. He may also have resumed a vegan diet. If he did, that's good for him. But he did eat meat because it's good for our bodies.

Even if animals are conscious creatures, it's a catch 22. If vampires were real people and great to be around and just made everybody feel wonderful in their presence, yet they sucked people's blood to their deaths, could you blame 'em? Some of you would. I don't think I would. I would just avoid them.

[the lost]

Originally Posted by believenothing

Agreed. The human digestive system does more closely resemble an herbivore than a carnivore, but it is still a hybrid of the two. Chimps, our 'closest relative' might be mostly vegetarian, but they will occasionally eat meat.

There are all sorts of evils going into processed foods, not just cruelty to animals although that is a big one. If you choose not to eat meat because of cruelty to animals, it won't make a difference to those animals unless you can convince a meaningful number of people's perceptions. That's nearly impossible.

Also, the people cultivating your vegetarian food might (and are most likely to) be meat eaters. Where do you draw the line? The energy company that produced the power to make those veggie burgers or whatever was probably staffed my meat eaters.

So if people want to make the choice, they should take these things into account and do not cave to third party pressure. If you want to do it for health purposes, just keep in mind that meat proteins are vital for healing and nourishment in humans. Travis Barker was a vegetarian and to heal his burns was told to eat meat for the first time in 25 years and it worked. I've read articles that he lives a vegan lifestyle referencing his accident, but these might even be taken out of context. He may also have resumed a vegan diet. If he did, that's good for him. But he did eat meat because it's good for our bodies.

Even if animals are conscious creatures, it's a catch 22. If vampires were real people and great to be around and just made everybody feel wonderful in their presence, yet they sucked people's blood to their deaths, could you blame 'em? Some of you would. I don't think I would. I would just avoid them.

Good post (except the bit about the vampires )

Not to pick at your post but we are more closer in design to other omnivores. I cant name them but someone made a post a few months ago naming them and how we are more similar to them than either herbivores or carnivores.

[robbyblade]

Our systems are closest to wolves.

The two differences are length, and acidity. Ours are longer with a little less acidity.The two differences balance each other out. Theirs just works a few hours faster. They get the same end result.

Nothing digests better for humans than RAW meat/fat. NOTHING!

We can eat a little fruit though. I only use it for working out really hard. The carbs save me from breaking down more proteins than I normally would. I really only use bananas, berries, and raw honey.

Grains are the worst food. They are not human food. They literally destroy the digestive system.

We cannot break down the cellulose surrounding the nutrients in vegetables. That is a fact. Vegetarians can argue all they want. They are wrong.

[psilocybin]

Everyone is right, some just more than others.

While I can't locate a source of raw meat here, I do enjoy raw seafood and fish (sushi, oysters etc). I also do enjoy raw beef Japanese style.

However my main diet is veggies and fruit. I am dropping bread.

What about rye bread, buckwheat robbyblade?

[plam]

The point of this article is not about
the right or wrong food choices
it's about the psychological reasons in making these choices.

The conclusion is that going vegetatian
is very often connected to one's desire to lose weight.
Now we know how fashion dictates the trends in people's weight
At the moment the norm seems to be the skinny bitch.
Which is also unhealthy.

On the other hand people are getting fatter and fatter
because if increased availability of processed food.
So vegetarianism is promoted as a way out of it.
The sure way to lose weight.

For me, this is again part of the elite's agenda to keep people sick
On one hand, the processed food make people sick and fat
and on the other hand vegetarianism is promoted to fight that
but in itself vegetarianism is not the perfect diet for people.

It's a win-win situation for the elite and
they are making money through both channels
which is always their strategy.

The optimum diet for people includes a variety of
animal products combined with clean fruits and vegetables.
All foods must come from small farms where both
animals and plants are treated properly.
Ideally most food should be home grown.

Seeds and nuts in moderation.
Grains and legumes very rarely.

As in regards with meat, we should go back
to eating more animals organs.
As for fruits and plants, we should make sure
they are ripe, with high degree of BRIX.

Finally, the key to health is
eating as little as possible
but making sure one's food comes from different sources.

The varied diet is the number one reason why we became
the masters of this planet. It is no surprise that the elite
is using food to subdue and control the masses.
They treat people as non-humans.

[unicorny]

I think that the link between veggetarianism and eating disorders is more to do with fussy eaters and control, those people choose to call themselves vegetarian rather than just be dubbed a fussy eater who doesn't like most foods. My cousin is one of theese she only eats chips, cheese and the odd can of soup. I'm not sure how she has survived. but with a diet like that you will feel depressed fairly quickly she is missing out on so many essential nutrients that are essential for normal healthy brain function.

[plam]

Originally Posted by unicorny

I think that the link between veggetarianism and eating disorders is more to do with fussy eaters and control, those people choose to call themselves vegetarian rather than just be dubbed a fussy eater who doesn't like most foods. My cousin is one of theese she only eats chips, cheese and the odd can of soup. I'm not sure how she has survived. but with a diet like that you will feel depressed fairly quickly she is missing out on so many essential nutrients that are essential for normal healthy brain function.

Fussy eating is an eating disorder.

[buddhabuddha]

Originally Posted by hypnoticspectre

you take too much of a scientific seat my friend
vegetarianism is about conscious growth, if you want to carry on with a catlike mentality sure, but others tend to try alternatives in life. If people end up with an eating disorder then I bet 99% of the time its a mental disclarity not because of eating veg and some dairy...

What is conscious growth?

[unicorny]

Originally Posted by plam

Fussy eating is an eating disorder.

exactly and tagging yourself as a vegetarian is just one way of making it more socially acceptable. I'm vegetarian myself, but I eat everything and choose not to eat meat, not for worries over killing animals, but because of the lack of reverence that is involved in the factory farming and killing methods in society.

[plam]

Originally Posted by unicorny

exactly and tagging yourself as a vegetarian is just one way of making it more socially acceptable. I'm vegetarian myself, but I eat everything and choose not to eat meat, not for worries over killing animals, but because of the lack of reverence that is involved in the factory farming and killing methods in society.

That's a sensible approach.

[hypnoticspectre]

I do eat meat though I dont particularly like beef & feels heavy on my system.
Fish and occasionally lamb is best for me.

Conscious growth is about purging your life of false beliefs and assumptions and discovering our desires, outside of any social conditioning.

[icke_is_right]

Plam believes that the inbreeds are trying to kill us by making us all vegetarian, yet their own organisation that he's quoted (The World Health Organisation) think's it's an eating disorder. I little weakness in the theory and hence people are pumping themselves stupid with animal products left right and center still, with no sign of giving up. So, I disagree with this one, in fact I'd say it rather more points to eating animal products as a way of forwarding their agenda.

In the thread on Anger, Plam claimed to be the biggest seller of Cheese in London. (I don't believe a word of it, of course but you might, you couldn't have Plam's level of ability and sit posting rubbish, (it is rubbish but who could keep up with the output to counter it all!?) on this forum all day and cut it in the cut throat London business world). Therefore, if we take this as true, Plam will be profiting by knowingly selling pasteurised and antibiotic filled food to thousands of people. You couldn't be the biggest supplier of cheese without doing this because that is what's mostly available in London. Personally I think this is unethical because most people realise that such food is poison, should be unpasteurised and grass fed. So preaching one thing here and claiming to do another.

I worry about the people listening to Plam because, Plam was unable to read a simple X/Y graph. Totally incapable when he took on the debate in gold. Now, if this was a simple mistake, fair enough but it wasn't and Plam proved the point. Again, I would expect most 11 year olds to grasp this.

There are some intelligent people on this forum and they are frightened by the lack of intelligence displayed in people. Be careful who you listen to or just carry on and deal with the consequences later on in life.

[plam]

Hehe, here comes my own personal forum nemesis - icke_is_right
He follows me around like a cold shadow
The man's so obsessed with my persona
that he screams my name during sex

p.s. I said I sell THE FINEST cheese, you idiot
not that I'm the biggest seller of cheese - I wish!

What a plonker!

[hypnoticspectre]

well Plam you do like to push those Veggies buttons, tut tut

[plam]

Originally Posted by hypnoticspectre

well Plam you do like to push those Veggies buttons, tut tut

I don't mind - any publicity is good!

Look now some people will think
I'm the biggest seller of cheese in London!
Whohoo!