Vegans/Vegetarians: how many of you have suffered or do suffer from an eating disorder?

Question

I do not wish to minimise the many wonderful reasons for going vegetarian or vegan, but it strikes me that many people in recovery from compulsive overeating/anorexia and bulimia nervosa have tried these lifestyles for one reason or another - perhaps seeking a healthy food plan? Im just curious to know about whether these problems might have led some of you to become vegan?

Answer 1

not me i am a vegetarian and i do not have an E.D

Answer 2

I used to eat hardly anything, because I was afraid of gaining weight. but i couldn't have been categorized as anorexic...if that makes sense.

that finally healed after a really rough year (thankfully it didn't get too serious). And i chose vegetarianism as a healthier lifestyle and so i wouldn't have to worry as much about gaining weight.

Answer 3

No, I chose veganism out of ethical reasons.  I've never known anyone to go fully vegetarian or vegan just to lose weight or b/c of an ED.  I think if it doesn't move you internally / ethically / morally etc.... then there is no way you would stay veg*n.  

Oh and in case you didn't know the astericks used in (veg*n) makes it possible to refer to both the vegetarians and vegans at the same time.

Answer 4

I'm not sure about that.  I am a vegan and I have never had an eating disorder.  Sorry I couldn't help more:)

Answer 5

Along with Atkins and other every other diet you can think of, vegatarianism or veganism may be something that people with eating disorders try.

From my own experience, most of the people who stick with it are motivated by ethical reasons though.

Answer 6

I am 18 and have been a vegitarian for 14 years (ever since I saw the movie Babe when I was 4) and I have never had any eating disorders or health problems

Answer 7

My sister was anorexic as a teenager, and now in her late twenties she is now a vegetarian for health reasons. However, she had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and had put on a lot of weight from her two pregnancies, so I think nothing of it.

My mother was bulimic as a teenager and in her twenties, and she is trying to go vegetarian for health reasons (blood pressure and weight related).

My other sister had the start of bulimia (I no longer speak with her so I am unsure of how she is now) and she was a vegetarian for about a year before her problems started.

I myself am vegan and have never had, and never plan on having, an eating disorder.

Answer 8

I have been a vegan all of my life. Ill admit when I was younger (and began to pick and make my own food) I couldve been healthier. I lost a little weight and got cold pretty easily.  Thats because I became a fruitarian, which is pretty unhealthy and a little too extreme. Anyways...thats when I was VERY young. As long as you know what you are doing and what to eat you will be fine. I am 23 now and have no problems. And no, Ive never had an eating disorder, and to be honest, I dont know ANYONE omnivore/carnivore/vegetarian/vegan/frui... that have ever had any eating disorders. I will agree that a lot of people choose this lifestyle as a fad...a short-lived fad. You will notice your skin clear up and you will lose weight pretty fast, so I guess it could be a good diet.

Answer 9

I have been bulimic for about 9 years and the only time I was ever vegetarian/vegan was for weight loss reasons or so my family wouldn't bug me about not eating with them.

I met a couple girls in treatment at Rosewood Ranch who who were vegan or vegetarian and they were in it for the animal cruelty reasons.  However, another girl who later came into treatment when I was about to leave claimed to be vegan but it ended up she just said that to avoid eating certain foods.

I think people with bulimia or compulsive eating are sometimes able to maintain veg lifestyles in their recovery path if *and only if* they are doing it without the mindset of cutting out food groups to avoid food or calories.  It is really about the intention and reasoning.

The best way to maintain recovery is to focus on the emotional, physical, and spiritual well being as a tripod.  If one leg is broken, the others are going to be off balance.

You might look up the eating disorder "orthorexia"... it is more common in vegans and vegetarians.

Hope this answered your questions.  :)

Answer 10

It's a circular argument. People with eating disorders claim they are vegetarian because they want ot hide the fact that they are losing weight and weight loss has been mistakenly  identified with veganism/vegetarianism. It  gives them a convenient  excuse not to eat or refuse foods.

On the other hand, some vegans/vegetarians end up developing some eating disorder because of the severe emotional and psychological obssession with food as a component of the lifestyle. Obssession not with overconsumption but with personal ethical and moral conflicts within the person itslef. This phenomenon however is not restricted to vegetrains or vegans only. Most often it is a stage towards developing a clinically diagnosed eating disorder not the cause itself.

Answer 11

My best friend is a vegan and i do believe she has suffered from  a condition that makes her realy cold all the time and her imune system is c**p. I forget what its called it rhymmes with insomnia or amnesia or something :S.

Answer 12

I don't have any eathing disorders, but I've know people who use  the excuse "I'm a vegetarian/vegan," to cover for an eating disorder.

Answer 13

To the first person that answered: That's not an eating disorder, that's an iron deficientcy.

It seems that changing their diets to that of a vegan or vegetarians is more of a step of recovery than a change that you make when the ED's in full swing.

Answer 14

i have never suffered from any eating disorder. I don't think i ever will, but if i do, i don't think the cause would be veganism or vegetarianism. I am vegetarian, and nothing has happened to me in terms of eating disorders, as is my entire direct family of 5 people.

My friend has become vegetarian as has many of my teachers, but it isn't because of eating disorders, it is either because of animal rights, or because they want to. It has nothing to do with eating disorders.