Abstract
The purpose of this study was to replicate and expand upon previous research that has examined the potential association between vegetarianism and disordered eating. Limitations of previous research studies are addressed, including possible low reliability of measures of eating pathology within vegetarian samples, use of only a few dietary restraint measures, and a paucity of research examining potential differences in body image and food choice motives of vegetarians versus nonvegetarians. Two hundred and fifty-six college students completed a number of measures of eating pathology and body image, and a food choice motives questionnaire. Interestingly, no significant differences were found between vegetarians and nonvegetarians in measures of eating pathology or body image. However, significant differences in food choice motives were found. Implications for both researchers and clinicians are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rodin J., Silberstein L.R., Striegel-Moore R.H.: Women and weight: A normative discontent. In: Sonderegger T.B. (Ed.), Nebraska symposium on motivation: Psychology and gender. Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press, pp. 267–307, 1984.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th edition-text revision). Washington, D.C., American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
Fallon P., Katzman M., Wooley S.: Feminist perspectives on eating disorders. New York, The Guilford Press, 1994.
Smolak R., Levine M.P., Striegel-Moore R.H.: The developmental psychopathology of eating disorders: Implications for research, prevention, and treatment. Mahwah, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1996.
Gilbody S.M., Kirk S.F., Hill A.J.: Vegetarianism in young women: Another means of weight control? Int. J. Eat. Disord., 26, 87–90. 1999.
Kadambari R., Gowers S., Crisp A.: Some correlates of vegetarianism in anorexia nervosa. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 5, 539–544. 1986.
Lindeman M., Stark K., Latvala K.: Vegetarianism and eating-disordered thinking. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention, 8, 157–165, 2000.
Martins Y., Pliner P., O’Connor R.: Restrained eating among vegetarians: Does a vegetarian eating style mask concerns about weight? Appetite, 32, 145–154, 1999.
Neumark-Sztainer D., Story M., Resnick M.D., Blum R.: Adolescent vegetarians: A behavioral profile of a school-based population in Minnesota. Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med., 151, 833–838, 1997.
O’Connor M.A., Touyz S.W., Dunn S.M., Beumont P.J.V.: Vegetarianism in anorexia nervosa? A review of 116 consecutive cases. The Medical Journal of Australia, 147, 40–42, 1987.
Sullivan V., Damani S.: Vegetarianism and eating disorders — partners in crime? European Eating Disorders Review, 8, 263–266, 2000.
Worsley A., Skrzypiec G.: Teenage Vegetarianism: Beauty or the Beast? Nutr. Res., 17, 391–404, 1997.
Janelle K.C., Barr S.: Nutrient intakes and eating behavior scores of vegetarian and nonvegetarian women. J. Am. Diet Assoc., 95, 180–186. 1995.
Perry C.L., McGuire M.T., Neumark-Sztainer D., Story M.: Characteristics of vegetarian adolescents in a multiethnic urban population. J. Adolesc. Health, 29, 406–416, 2001.
Bedford J.L., Barr S.I.: Diets and selected lifestyle practices of self-defined adult vegetarians from populationbased sample suggests they are more “health conscious.” Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act., 2, 2005
Leon G., Fulkerson J., Perry C., Cudeck R.: Personality and behavioral vulnerabilities associated with risk status for eating disorders in adolescent girls. J. Abnorm. Psychol., 102, 438–444. 1993.
Lindeman M., Stark K.: Pleasure, pursuit of health or negotiation of identity? Personality correlates of Food Choice Motives among young and middle-aged women. Appetite, 33, 141–161, 1999.
Brown T.A., Cash T.F., Mikulka P.J.: Attitudinal bodyimage assessments: Factor analysis of the Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. J. Pers. Assess., 55, 135–144, 1990.
Reed D., Thompson J.K., Brannick M., Sacco W.: Development and validation of the Physical Appearance State and Trait Anxiety Scale. J. Anxiety Disord., 5, 323–332, 1991.
Cash T.F., Labarge A.S.: Development of the Appearance Schemas Inventory: a new cognitive body-image assessment. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 20, 37–50. 1996.
Garner D.M., Shafer C.L., Rosen L.W.: Critical appraisal of the DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for eating disorders. In: Hooper S.R., Hynd G.W., Mattison R.E. (Eds.), Child Psychopathology: Diagnostic criteria and clinical assessment: Current issues and procedures: Vol 1. Psychiatric Disorders. New Jersey, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1991.
Van Strien T., Frijters J.E., Bergers G.P., Defares P.B.: The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) for the assessment of restrained, emotional, and external eating behavior. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 5, 295–315, 1986.
Garner D.M., Garfinkel P.E.: The Eating Attitudes Test: An index of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Psychol. Med., 9, 273–279, 1979.
Stunkard A.J., Messick S.: The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire to measure dietary restraint, disinhibition and hunger. J. Psychosom. Res., 29, 71–83, 1985.
Steptoe A., Pollard T.M., Wardle J.: Development of a measure of the motives underlying the selection of food: The Food Choice Questionnaire. Appetite, 25, 276–284, 1995.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fisak, B., Peterson, R.D., Tantleff-Dunn, S. et al. Challenging previous conceptions of vegetarianism and eating disorders. Eat Weight Disord 11, 195–200 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327571
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327571