Vegetarians 'risk binge eating'
2009-04-02 08:23
New York - Young vegetarians
consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables are eating a healthy
diet but they may also have an increased risk of binge eating
and other unusual behaviours, researchers said.
After examining the diets, weight and drug and alcohol use
of 2 516 teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 23 who took part
in a survey in 31 Minnesota schools they found that young
vegetarians reported more binge eating than meat eaters.
"Findings from the present study indicate that adolescent
and young adult vegetarians may experience the health benefits
associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake, and young
adults may have the added advantage of decreased risk for
overweight and obesity," said Romona Robinson-O'Brien, an
assistant professor at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint
John's University in Minnesota.
"However, current vegetarians may be at increased risk for
binge eating, while former vegetarians may be at increased risk
for extreme unhealthful weight control behaviours," she added.
Unhealthy weight-control behaviours
Robinson-O'Brien and her team, who reported the findings in
the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, said about
20-25% of current and former vegetarians in the study
displayed unhealthy weight-control behaviours such as taking diet
pills, vomiting, using laxatives and diuretics and binge eating.
The majority of the vegetarians in the study were female.
Although teenagers may see vegetarianism as a healthy option,
Robinson-O'Brien said they might also be motivated by losing
weight.
"Adolescents often experience a heightened sensitivity about
their appearance and pressure to conform to a cultural ideal,
resulting in body dissatisfaction and experimentation with
various weight loss methods," she explained.
Doctors and parents of vegetarians, while acknowledging the
benefits of a vegetarian diet, should also recognise the
potential risk of eating problems.
She added that it would also be helpful for doctors to
investigate a person's motive for choosing a vegetarian diet.
"When guiding adolescent and young adult vegetarians in
proper nutrition and meal planning, clinicians should
investigate an individual's motives for choosing a vegetarian
diet and ask about current and former vegetarian status when
assessing risk for disordered eating behaviours,"
Robinson-O'Brien added.