Vegan diets not linked to dysfunctional eating disorders, experts reveal

29 Sep 2023 --- Researchers from the University of São Paulo estimate the prevalence of dysfunctional eating disorders among vegans, based on a study population of 971, at a tenth of the average regional population in Brazil.

The researchers set out to investigate the prevalence of dysfunctional dietary behavior in this demographic due to the growing popularity of veganism in the region. Disordered eating attitudes were identified in about 0.6% of participants. However, while the levels of disordered eating were low among vegans, certain food choices were associated with disordered eating attitudes.

The authors explain that they wanted to understand the motivations behind adhering to a vegan diet, as the scientific literature points out that veganism could legitimize the rejection of certain foods and social situations involving eating. In that way, it could mask dysfunctional dietary behavior and even eating disorders by facilitating restriction.

“However, the results of the study absolve veganism of blame by showing that the presence of dysfunctional dietary behavior is mainly associated with the reasons for dieting rather than the type of diet,” says Hamilton Roschel, a professor at the University of São Paulo medical school and head of the Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group.

Spectrum of dietary choices
The researchers collected socio-demographic information about education, income and location, for example, and eating habits, via a questionnaire. The study’s second phase focused on the reasons for dietary choices, such as necessity and hunger, enjoyment, health, habits and natural concerns.

The Vegan Eating Habits and Nutritional Evaluation Survey (VEGAN-EatS) was a cross-sectional survey conducted between September 2021 and January 2023, aimed at gathering knowledge on multiple aspects of dietary behaviors in vegans. Participants were recruited through advertisements on Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Twitter.

The study evaluated a “convenience sample,” mainly of women with eutrophic body mass index and a high educational level.Veganism has been ruled out as a gateway to eating disorders by University of São Paulo researchers. 

In this cross-sectional study, as opposed to previous suggestions, levels of disordered eating were very low among vegans, although certain food choice motives were associated with disordered eating attitudes. 

The lowest-ranking reasons were emotional control, social norms and social image. The study’s findings were published in JAMA Network Open. The findings can help design public interventions to promote healthy eating and prevent or treat eating disorders.

“Nutritional adequacy and possible deficiencies in restrictive diets should also be analyzed, but as far as mental health is concerned, it’s clear that what matters most is understanding why individuals make their particular choices, monitoring their status, and if necessary referring them to a suitable specialist,” says Roschel.

The fact that 62% of the participants say their motivation for a vegan diet is ethics and animal rights, while 10% cite health reasons, helps explain the low prevalence of dysfunctional dietary behavior in the study sample.

Designing nutritional care programs
Motivated by a desire to control their weight or live a healthier life, many people display behavior, thoughts or feelings about food and the body referred to by specialists as dysfunctional dietary behavior or disordered eating attitudes, a risk factor for developing eating disorders. 

These include people who start a restrictive diet on impulse, fast for long periods, indulge in binge eating or feel guilty when they eat certain foods. 

“Understanding motivations for choosing a diet and the reasons for patients’ dietary choices helps us design more focused and effective nutritional care programs,” Roschel concludes.

More research is needed with heterogeneous probabilistic samples and qualitative analysis. 

The researchers highlight that gathering knowledge on eating motivation is key to understanding human behavior and the multitude of reasons for eating choices. Moreover, they state that they are part of a complex interaction involving food characteristics and biological, anthropological, psychological, cultural and socioeconomic factors.

Food choice motives have been shown to vary based on gender, BMI, and socioeconomic status. Scientists are curious how these motives are presented in individuals who follow a vegan diet.

Meanwhile, another study found that following a vegan diet for 16 weeks decreased total food costs by 16% per day for study participants, while daily food spending for a control group consuming their regular diet did not change. The Vegan Society notes that affordability is a crucial barrier for consumers adopting a vegan diet in the current cost-of-living crisis. 

By Inga de Jong