A research team from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil found that people who follow a vegan diet have a lower risk of developing eating disorders. This is most likely because vegans choose this diet for ethical reasons, not for weight loss purposes. In this respect reports MedicalXpress.
971 Brazilian residents participated in the study. All subjects were vegans with an average body mass index of 22.6 (normal range 18.5 to 25). The researchers first used an online survey to collect data on participants’ education, income, and eating habits, and then tried to find out why the subjects chose this type of diet. Participants mostly used words and expressions such as “necessity”, “health” and “habit”. The least used items were “social norms”, “public image” and “emotional control”.
Nearly 62% of respondents said their motivations for going vegan were “ethical” and “animal rights.” Only 10% mentioned the need for healthcare.
It was revealed that 94% of the participants exhibited adequate eating behavior and were not susceptible to diseases such as anorexia and bulimia. Only a few of the 971 subjects had trouble perceiving their own bodies and tended to develop these mental disorders. People in this group admitted to having a lot of dietary restrictions in their lives, sometimes overeating, and feeling guilty after eating certain foods.
Vegans’ eating behavior is assumed to be more stable because avoiding certain types of foods is not associated with a desire to restrict calories and lose weight.
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