Vegetarian diets questioned

The health benefits of adhering to a vegetarian diet may not outweigh the potential detrimental effects.

According to scientists from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, the University of Minnesota and the University of Texas, Austin, although vegetarians adhere to a healthier diet, evidence suggests that they may be at increased risk for disordered eating behavior.

Their study, published in the April edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, examined data on 2,500 adolescents and young adults, identified as current, former or never vegetarians.

“Adolescent and young adult vegetarians may experience the health benefits associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake and young adults my experience the added benefit of decreased risk for overweight and obesity. However, current vegetarians may be at increased risk for binge eating, while former vegetarians may be at increased risk for extreme unhealthful weight control behaviors,” found the study.

Data on the participants was taken from a Project EAT survey, which had recorded long-term nutritional behavior of adolescents and adults aged 15 to 23.