Adolescent and Young Adult Vegetarianism: Better Dietary Intake and Weight Outcomes but Increased Risk of Disordered Eating Behaviors

doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.12.014

Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Volume 109, Issue 4, April 2009, Pages 648-655

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2008.12.014 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

Examine characteristics of current and former adolescent and young adult vegetarians and investigate the relationships between vegetarianism, weight, dietary intake, and weight-control behaviors.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis using data from a population-based study in Minnesota (Project EAT-II: Eating Among Teens).

Setting

Participants completed a mailed survey and food frequency questionnaire in 2004.

Participants

Males and females (n=2,516), ages 15-23 years.

Main outcome measures

Weight status, dietary intake (fruit, vegetables, fat, calories), unhealthful weight-control behaviors.

Analysis

Multiple regression models controlling for socioeconomic status and sex were used to test for significant differences between current, former, and never vegetarians within the younger and older cohort.

Results

Participants were identified as current (4.3%), former (10.8%), and never (84.9%) vegetarians. Current vegetarians in the younger and older cohorts had healthier dietary intakes than nonvegetarians with regard to fruits, vegetables, and fat. Among young adults, current vegetarians were less likely than never vegetarians to be overweight or obese. Adolescent and young adult current vegetarians were more likely to report binge eating with loss of control when compared to nonvegetarians. Among adolescents, former vegetarians were more likely than never vegetarians to engage in extreme unhealthful weight-control behaviors. Among young adults, former vegetarians were more likely than current and never vegetarians to engage in extreme unhealthful weight-control behaviors.

Conclusions and implications

Adolescent and young adult vegetarians may experience the health benefits associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake and young adults may experience the added benefit of decreased risk for overweight and obesity. However, current vegetarians may be at increased risk for binge eating with loss of control, while former vegetarians may be at increased risk for extreme unhealthful weight-control behaviors. It would be beneficial for clinicians to inquire about current and former vegetarian status when assessing risk for disordered eating behaviors.

Section snippets

Study Design and Sample

The current study includes data collected from 2,516 participants (younger cohort: age range=15 to 18 years) and (older cohort: age range=19-23 years) who were surveyed in Project EAT (Eating Among Teens)-II. Project EAT-II is follow-up study of Project EAT-I, a study of the socioenvironmental, personal, and behavioral determinants of dietary intake and weight status in adolescents (15, 16). In Project EAT-I, middle school and high school students from 31 Minnesota schools completed in-class

Vegetarian Status

The present study included 108 (4.3%) current vegetarians, 268 (10.8%) former vegetarians, and 2,112 (84.9 %) participants identified as never vegetarian. Among the current vegetarians, the majority were female (n=83; 76.5%) and represented diverse ethnic backgrounds (Table 1). Similar percentages of younger cohort (high school: age range=15 to 18 years) and older cohort (post−high school; age range=19 to 23 years) participants identified as current vegetarians (4.0% in younger cohort, 4.5% in

Discussion

The present study was composed of 108 (4.3%) current vegetarian and 268 (10.8%) former-vegetarian adolescents and young adults. The most common reasons stated for becoming a vegetarian among the younger cohort were to help the environment, wanting more healthful diet, not wanting to kill animals, and not liking the taste of meat. Among the older cohort, the most common reasons stated for becoming a vegetarian a more healthful diet, not wanting to kill animals, and not liking the taste of meat.

Conclusions

In summary, adolescent and young adult vegetarians may experience the health benefits associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake and young adults attain the added benefit of decreased risk for overweight and obesity. However, vegetarians may be at increased risk for disordered eating behaviors, such as binge eating and unhealthful weight-control behaviors.

Study results indicate that it would be beneficial for clinicians to ask adolescents and young adults about their current and

R. Robinson-O'Brien is an assistant professor in the Nutrition Department, College of Saint Benedict+Saint John's University, St Joseph, MN

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R. Robinson-O'Brien is an assistant professor in the Nutrition Department, College of Saint Benedict+Saint John's University, St Joseph, MN

C. L. Perry is a professor and regional dean and Rockwell Chair in Society and Health, University of Texas School of Public Health, Austin

M. Wall is an associate professor, Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

M. Story and D. Neumark-Sztainer are professors, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

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ResearchCurrent ResearchAdolescent and Young Adult Vegetarianism: Better Dietary Intake and Weight Outcomes but Increased Risk of Disordered Eating Behaviors

Abstract

Objective

Design

Setting

Participants

Main outcome measures

Analysis

Results

Conclusions and implications

Section snippets

Study Design and Sample

Vegetarian Status

Discussion

Conclusions

J Am Diet Assoc

J Adolesc Health

Appetite

Appetite

J Am Diet Assoc

J Am Diet Assoc

Am J Clin Nutr

J Am Diet Assoc

Prev Med

J Am Diet Assoc

J Adolesc Health

J Am Diet Assoc

Prev Med

J Psychosom Res

J Pediatr Health Care

Research
Current Research
Adolescent and Young Adult Vegetarianism: Better Dietary Intake and Weight Outcomes but Increased Risk of Disordered Eating Behaviors