Why is vegetarianism the new fad diet?

Question

It seems like so many people become vegetarians without realizing what a commitment it truly is.

Why is being a vegetarian suddenly so cool? And why do people make this lifestyle choice without doing any research?

Answer 1

It seems to be the latest fad for impressionable teeny boppers.

Answer 2

I think you are referring to people who become vegetarian or vegan in order to lose weight. Even though becoming vegan or vegetarian does not mean that a person will lose weight as weight is based on calories consumed vs calories used, the recent book Skinny B*tch has marketed veganism and vegetarianism as a weight loss method. This is similar to the marketing schemes that popularized the other fad diets like the South Beach or Atkins diet. Hence some new vegetarians and vegans think that if they become vegan or vegetarian, then they will magically lose the pounds. People in this mentality have a tendency to do a veg*n diet without much research or commitment as it is being treated as a quick fix rather than a life choice.

Answer 3

I went vegetarian without doing much research and ate out of a vending machine for lunch everyday. I gained weight, but when I stopped eating junk food and started being picky about my diet, I lost the weight. By picky, I mean I prefer unprocessed foods over processed and organic/locally grown over imported/conventional.

I am now a raw vegan and will continue following what I believe to be a healthier diet. With raw, it just takes variety in the diet, so I am not being an extremist or cool, I am simplifying my life.

I dont want to eat a cow, pig, etc. It does not appeal to me to drink from a cow as I would a mother. The cow produces milk for its calf, not for me.

Research doesnt have to be extensive as long as people use common sense and dont live off of junk food. Bread and cheese is not any healthier than a burger. It defeats part of the benefits from a veggie diet.

Answer 4

NO vegetarian is not NEW I have been one for 25 years people are waking up to ANIMAL CRUELTY if you have  seen  how theses poor animals  are treated be  for they are SLAUGHTERED  chickens are kept in 11'' cages  and given  antibiotics until they are killed some die in their cages and they are still pushed out to restaurants & grocers  tis the SMART way to eat Soy products are GOOD for you if you are not alergic to soy and they have NO GMOs in it

Answer 5

yeah its the new fad diet because some holleywood people are on it so people think that if they become vegetarian that they might just become more famous

Answer 6

Sheesh what is all this 'research' everyone's whining about?  I'm part of that despicable early 20's crowd that is 'stupid and naive' according to betty.

I went veggie two or three years ago without doing 'research', and have had no problems.  Maybe it's my stereotypical sense of invincibility?  Or maybe it's not all that hard, or that much of a commitment, if you have common sense.  

I have had to do a little research recently as I slide into veganism.

Answer 7

How is abstaining from flesh foods a fad? Vegetarianism is popular for lots of reasons.

If it was a fad, it's a pretty long standing one.  Vegetarianism is NOT a fad.

A lot of well known historical figures were vegetarian, including the playwright Shakespeare.

Answer 8

Simply, fad diets have been around for nearly fifty years.  A new one seems to be popping up every single day.  They certainly attack the problem of losing weight a different way.  The vegetarianism is just the lasted craze that people are prone to believe will me the next "miracle diet."

All fad diets simply offer short term results but only allow you to gain the weight back.  I believe this issue of vegetarianism is just the latest fad.

Hope this helps

Answer 9

what rock have you been living under???!!???  there are places on this planet where vegetarianism has been going on for more than 5,000yrs.  so why do folks making sweeping statements without doing any research?

Answer 10

LOL, it's totally not new.

Answer 11

its not its sooo old! its been going on for over several decade now! i dont think its cool! only overweight,medical problem, and health conscious pipol are thinking twice about their life style in eating for a better long life.

Answer 12

Vegetarianism is a fad because it's "different"

I don't really mind if it's a fad or not. The more vegetarians, the better! It means less suffering of animals and less stress on the enviornment.

Answer 13

It has been 'cool' to be vegetarian or vegan for a long time

Just the fact that in the West we have separate terms for real vegetarians and wanna-be vegetarians should be evidence enough.  The whole reason the silly word Vegan exists is because there were so many people out there saying, "I'm vegetarian, but I eat eggs, or dairy, or just a little meat, or only non-red meat, or only fish...  There have always been a lot of wanna-bes out there who think it's cool to be like a hippie and wear hemp and smoke pot and not kill or eat animals etc. and go to protests and stuff like that.  Now it's totally cool to be for the environment and to be cool you have to do something that most others do not do, but something that other do... enough others so that you can join in their group.  Just like those people who decide to start smoking so they can join that group.  Or those that decide to join the sports teams to join that group.

Answer 14

hahhaha its not new. Its been around a LONG time. A lot of people do their research and try it out. Those who don't do the research are stubborn or just feel they know what theyre doing. Maybe they do, maybe they dont. Who are we to judge?

Answer 15

Funny you should ask that question.  I just read an article the other day on The Huffington Post that addressed this very same topic.

Generally, it boils down to something akin to Atkins fatigue.  No matter how you look at it, eating a decomposing animal corpse  is still eating a decomposing animal corpse.  So even if you lose tons of weight (a questionable claim at best), it's still not a healthy diet.  

As people continue to search for answers to healthy, sound advice about losing weight and feeling good - studies continue to indicate that vegetarian/veganism is a consistent approach.

As for making a lifestyle choice without doing any research - for me personally, I became a vegan immediately after reading the book "Skinny *****".  I bought it on a layover in an airport and read the whole thing during a long plane ride.  I was so appalled when turned the last page that it was an easy transition for me.  

Of course I checked many of the outrageous things I read about slaughterhouse activity, cleanliness, health claims, and the chemicals in our meat online (all of which was perfectly true, I might add).  But I can safely say that that book had converted me almost instantly.

That was a couple of years ago.  And oddly, I don't really miss my old lifestyle.

So never underestimate the power of pop culture.  :)

Answer 16

Vegetarianism isn't new.  Pythagorus was a vegetarian.  Maybe you're thinking about the book "Skinny *****"?  People want to be skinny so they try something and when it doesn't work as well as they hoped they move on.  At least while they're vegetarian they're not contributing to the slaughter of animals....

Answer 17

It may be NEW for some, but it has been around forever.  My son is 12 and has been a devout vegetarian for 2 1/2 years.  I eat meat, but very little and am trying to convert because of the harsh realities of animal treatment.  Heath wise, you couldn't make a better decision.  So, if some people don't stay with it, it was a fad... for them.

Answer 18

Its not a new fad diet.  Yeah...  I agree...  a lot of people don't realize what a commitment it is and they don't do the research.  My experience has been that teens and people in their early 20's have this view.  People this age tend to be a bit naive and stupid anyway.  However, I do know a lot of people who DID do the research.  How old are you?