Is Veganism The New Anorexia?

Anyone you know explaining away their lack of eating due to a handy new PC phrase they picked up recently? Anyone you know starving themselves and calling their diet merely Vegetarian or Vegan? Think I'm crazy?

Any thoughts of your own on the subject?

Comments

[Jess]

I think about this myself from time to time. I was a vegan for a while in the middle of seven years of enjoying vegetarian living. What I have found is the following:
1) many vegans describe it as a "lifestyle", which makes it both politicized and polarizing
2)It is definitely "in vogue" among celebrities, which gives it
(undeserved) cachet, without explaining the dedication required to maintain your health when you do not have personal chef
3) It is my experience that in order to stay healthy on a vegan diet, one must be obsessed about food. You simply cannot deny that eating out in most areas of the U.S. (and almost everywhere else) is extremely difficult, save for in some cities. Even in Asia and Latin America, it is easier to find healthful vegetarian food than vegan food. And if you eat packaged foods, you have to read labels all the time for animal-derived ingredients.

I struggled to stay healthy eating fruit,vegetables, beans and grains. Nuts were a garnish for me, as I was on a limited budget. It is not cheaper to eat vegan if you actually try to have a varied diet.

I sometimes have disagreements with vegan friends about these points, and it is curious to note that the "spiritual basis" for their diet usually does not preclude them from lambasting me for mine. But I say, even Gwyneth Paltrow couldn't deny the allure of a good cheese. mmm, cheese.

[Nicole]

I live in NYC and I have met a number of vegans who were frighteningly skinny. Even at vegan restaurants I will see these women eating half a salad. There are also trends where I see food items listed as "fat free and vegan!" which I find incredibly worrying.

I myself am an omnivoire *because* of my health. As a vegetarian I was unable to get everything I needed due to some quirks with my GI system. I do eat a lot of vegetarian food though, and have a number of vegetarian friends. Those that are able to comprehend that my body may be different than theirs when it comes to a vegetarian diet usually remain my friends - those who are busy lambasting me, I tend not to remain friends with.

I am a little worried about the move towards a RAW food as well. While I have had some really interesting and lovely raw food from a local raw restaurant, I think that one has to be *even more* obsessed with food than on a simply vegan diet. It's pretty disturbing. It's also disturbing to go into a restaurant filled with people who are frighteningly thin. While I liked the food I had, I don't think I'll be going "100% RAW" any time soon!

[M]

It is a snap to be a vegan if you are adept in cooking Indian cuisine. Especially south Indian that does not use any eggs or dairy. Pulses, rice, wheat and lots of vegetables make up the diet.

My only caution is do it right and do it for the right reasons. I am really scared of the new age militant vegans who seem to be spreading fast and furiously!

[Diane]

I don't actually know anyone personally, but have been reading more and more lately about the conflation of self-declared veganism with unhealthy/bad/irresponsible eating choices (including that article in the NYT about the nut-job couple that starved their kids by eating that way). Veganism does seem to attract an element that can seem a bit squirelly at times.

BUT...that said (and maybe with some legitimacy), I also think that all the outcry about it is incredibly western-centric. There are communities world-wide that eat either very strict vegetarian diets or vegan diets and do so happily and healthily. A traditional Jain diet for example would be reflective of this. These communities aren't chasing fashion, PC, or other trends, they are eating deeply tied into tradition.

About 80% of my day-to-day diet is Indian vegetarian cuisine, and I find no problem eating well and healthily this way. But I also stand as an observer on this issue not a participant, as I'm actually an omnivore. I eat meat infrequently, but I do eat it (Thai oxtail stew last night for dinner!). My friends tend to be the same, so I don't end up with much first hand experience of the trend you refer to. I do find it a bit troubling from what I hear.

[Nicole]

Many vegans bring up the "other cultures do it" observation. However, there have been a few studies done now on vegetarian Indian populations who are moving from India to European countries, and have started showing nutrient deficiencies *after* the move. The theory is that this happens because European farming techniques use more pesticide and these families are no longer unknowingly ingesting insects and insect eggs, which can be a significant portion of protein and trace minerals.

I will point out that many Indians are not vegans, but vegetarians who eat eggs, cheese, butter, ghee, etc.

[Jim]

My problem with veganism lies in the fact that it's often less of a simple food preference and more of a religion, which can make a lot of them very self-righteous and judgmental. It gets really old--talking to a vegan PETA member over dinner can be an agonizing experience.

That said, the "good" vegans I know show a deeper understanding of their food than virtually anyone else I've ever met. I don't know about the nutritional aspects of the vegan diet--I've seen research going either way--but it requires an intense dedication to your food to be a vegan, and that itself is impressive.

[Aaron]

I think the comments have been very interesting. Jim, you raise a good point...being a good vegan/vegetarian connects one to their food in a profound way. It is HARD to stay healthy as a vegetarian (if you think it's easy you aren't a good vegetarian/ a healthy one...you just aren't)...it requires constant vigilance and attention to nutrient values and levels. This in turn makes for a more informed eater.
But again, so many people don't understand their eating habits and put themselves in severe risk by limiting their intakes in these ways.

[Jim]

"It is HARD to stay healthy as a vegetarian..."

This really surprised me, but it's totally true. I wince for those who're vegetarian but don't enjoy cooking for themselves; it must be a painful existence.

[Felix]

I definitly run into this. Plenty of times. And I definitly run into people who are vegan for moral reasons, and aren't secretly (to themselves or anyone else) trying to diet.

I haven't been a vegan in years, and for the last few years I've eaten fish, but I haven't eaten other meat for 20 years. But I love fatty foods, carbs, rich foods, etc. I love to eat! I love fat bodies and all bodies and I'm not a dieter at all.

So ya, I know what you're getting at, and I do think its sometimes true, and not always true.

[Sonya]

Jains are NOT vegans. People, stop perpetuating this nonsense. Truly a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Jains drink milk, eat paneer, ghee, and butter. They DO NOT eat onions, garlic, or ginger among certain fruits and other vegetables.

A shuddh (pure) vegetarian in India gets their daily fat from dairy products.

Veganism is a western construct.

thanks

Sonya
(a frustrated Indian who has lived in the West for 23 years)

[Sonya]

Forgot to add one thing to my previous comment.

For doubters whether Jains are vegans, please check out the following cookbook:

www.mjain.net/cookbooks/jain_book.pdf

Written by Jains.

Thanks

Sonya

[Raspil]

i'm not a fan of anyone denying themselves anything on this planet when they have the means to obtain it and if they do such in the name of being skinny or politics... they fail.

/unapologetic omnivore

[Diane]

Sonya: Thanks for the clarification. I am actually extremely knowledgeable about Indian food and culture. I have many Indian friends, have spent time in India learning to cook there, and have probably 100 Indian cookbooks, about 1/2 of which are published in India. I make my own ghee, pickles, podis and sprouted dals, and as I said eat it for almost every meal (vegetarian, not vegan), so if I got it wrong probably lots of people would.

[Diane]

PS - Sonya:
You KNOW you are contributing to my cookbook adiction, don't you! I have to check that Jain cookbook out now...

[Lori S.]

PETA has (misleadingly) promoted vegetarianism as a weight loss plan for a while now. And then there's always Skinny Bitches.

But I guess I feel like in our messed-up culture, any restrictive eating plan can easily turn into an eating disorder. So it's not a surprise, but neither is it likey anything specific to vegetarianism/veganism.

[Corinne]

I am a vegan and I have the luxury of having a boyfriend who is a trained chef who cooks me a lot of things. I am thin but I graze all day long. My boyfriend and many of my friends eat meat. I just try to bring lots of yummy veg foods into their life to bring balance to their diets. They quite enjoy it.

I think the key is to be able to cook things and make sure you have your complete proteins. It takes work and if your not willing to plan out your meals and take a few extra vitamins it will be harder.

[Elisa Camahort]

What a provocative post title, Shuna :)

Having been a vegetarian since '89 and a vegan for over a year I would have to say that I feel like I'm on the *receiving* end of more unsolicited judgment and hostility than I could ever dish out.

I also think that the reason stories like the vegan couple and their starved infant get so much press is because they're the exception, not the norm. The vast majority of child abusers and neglecters are not veg*ns, but we certainly don't refer to child abuse and neglect as a problem in carnivorous society. I'm sure there are unbalanced, cruel, and criminal veg*ns in the world, and because veg*ns are such the minority they become representative in a way that isn't supported. We as a society do this to any marginalized, minority or not-the-norm group, BTW, not just veg*ns.

According to my own blogging philosophy, any comment I make that begins to exceeds 3 paragraphs is begging to be a post, so here's the post about this post. :)

[faustianbargain]

jains are not vegans.

its terribly tacky to discuss or speculate upon personal choices..trying to gossip about a person's food habits is(to me) like snickering about their sexual preference. both are very personal and should be respected.

just my 2c.

[faustianbargain]

sorry..i see that sonya has cleared the bit about vegans and jains.

shuna..let me honest with you(because i consider you a friend)...i am disappointed that you had to make this post. i would expect it from someone from ..say..the rabid ruhlman pack(like this guy... http://wolfwurst.blogspot.com ...who is anti vegan/vegetarian..who knows what he is trying to insinuate..i wont expand on it..but there is a post there about animal rights and the nazis...enough said..i have now learned not to respond the trolls).

its nonsense that vegetarians and vegans are not healthy..as if the omnivores are pictures of rosy health..please..what a load of crap! lets first worry about the obese before we worry about the skinny ones. more people stuffed themselves with butter and bacon for the atkins diet to LOSE weight. lets compare the percentage of the obese with the percentage of the anorexics to decide which group is more of a ticking time bomb.i am so tired of this nonsense.

[shuna fish lydon]

FB,

This post is a series of questions which come from a real place in my life-long experience. It's neither a rant nor a flame war, it is a small series of questions meant to start a discussion, which, as you can clearly see, did. From vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike.

"lets first worry about the obese before we worry about the skinny ones."

This is a very strange sentence to me. All health issues are equally worrisome in my opinion. All eating disorders are addictions/diseases that we should worry about, none are more problematic than the other.

Blaming fat people or blaming skinny people for their choices/pressures/body types/selves or issues is not a road I want to take.

Ever.

I am going to keep your comment up here for the sake of another opinion but for the record I, Shuna Lydon, and thus eggbeater, have a completely different viewpoint, stance and political stance on body issues and body types.

This post came from real life experiences, highly worrisome ones. And, so it appears, I am not the only one for whom this has occurred.

[faustianbargain]

i am sorry if i came off a little bit strong...one might even think of it as rude...but thats how i feel.

and i wanted to be honest with you about how i feel about the issue because i think you deserve it and because i respect you.

my sentence may seem strange to you...but read it again after checking the title of your post! the title suggests that veganism is the subject of your questions...shouldnt anorexia/anorexics be the subject if the point of it all is meant to trigger off a discussion about anorexics rather than vegans?

and no, i am not quibbling about semantics.

thanks for letting my comment stay. i'll stop now.

[Katherine Gray]

I haven't thought about food control issues in respect to veganism, but as we went through the Eat Local Challenge last month, with the added restriction of living on a tight budget, I went through the grocery store feeling a little deprived here and there. As a result a lot of old obsessive-restrictive behaviors starting popping up for me and I started to *like* feeling a little deprived, here and there. I was never anorexic nor bulemic but I certainly had my share of food issue control in my teens and early 20s.

I wonder if, for some people, going vegan can be a way to legitimize food control issues and give you a community in that practice. Of course, that could be said of any diet that has specific restrictions.

I'm glad you brought this up, Shuna. I was to chicken to talk about this last month while I was in the middle of it. I'll think about doing a post on this and my experiences with eating local.

[mbbored]

The other week, there was a headline article on CNN to the effect of "Do Vegetarians Get Enough Protein?" Someday, I'd like to see a headline "Do Carnivores Get Enough Fiber?" I don't understand why so many people can't conceptualize of a meal without meat or dairy, but think nothing of not eating fruits or vegetables.

Personally, I hate labels and gross generalizations. Yes, there are people who call themselves vegan who use it as a way to starve themselves or to push their politics on others. There are also meat-eaters who eat unhealthily and act just as meanly and self-entitled. It's about how each individual approaches their health and how they treat those around them.

[jenifer l.]

I hope that I can answer your original question about veganism and eating disorders. I am currently a vegan and have had an eating disorder (it wasn't severe, but I think I can understand the perspective). Some people claim to be vegans to "get out of eating" in social situations, however it is not likely that they are even actual vegans. Furthermore, from my own experience I've discovered that by eating a healthy vegan diet (composed of mainly fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains) and getting regular exercise I don't need to worry about gaining weight which would make me vulnerable to unhealthy eating habits (trying to starve myself or purging).

[Aaron]

Jennifer L.
I've never met you, but I say this merely out of compassion. You should seek additional help to improve your relationship with your body and the food you put in it. People who have a healthy relationship with these things don't "worry about gaining weight" nor would this situation lead to starvation or purging.
Food and exercise can be beautiful things, but you have to find a way to come to peace with them.
Good luck.

[Hannah]

I don't know whether this is too late to post, but I was very interested that the discussion eggbeater's post spawned was entirely different to what I was expecting. It seems to have become more of a debate about whether veganism can be healthy, whereas eggbeater seemed to be commenting on the use of veganism and vegetarianism as a mask for eating disorders, which in itself says nothing about the practices of veganism or vegetarianism.

Perhaps each person reacted to the question according to their own experiences, so that I, who has seen veganism used to justify restrictive eating that ended with two of my friends in hospital with anorexia, considered the topic from a different angle.

So no, eggbeater, I do not think you are crazy, and I agree with you that all body/eating issues are equally important. I also, personally, feel that society's paranoia/moral panic over obesity has also provided a cover for eating disorders in some cases.

[Chelsea]

I really wish it wasn't true. I think it hurts us all when people go "vegan" as an excuse to be anorexic. I think this may be one of the main reasons people think vegans are so skinny. I am a healthy weight, on the trim side but I always have been. I do eat lots of fattening vegan cookies and brownies (yum!). And I find it pretty easy to get a balanced diet.

Also, I may get shot for saying this, but veganism IS a lifestyle choice. You are technically a strict vegetarian if you only chose the diet. Not wearing leather will not make you skinnier.

[Becky]

I have a friend who is a "vegan." she only eats breakfast and dinner. for breakfast she has porridge and a dinner of pureed ginger and celery and takes various vitamin tablets.

She gets upset that people think she's anorexic and if they mention anything about it to her she won't speak to them again, hence why i've never said anything to her about it. She claims that she gets blood tests done every two months and that they always come back perfect.

But i can't believe this, i have never seen anyone skinnier than her in my life and i've experienced an anorexic death.

I mentioned that to her before and she said she can't understand why someone would want to be anorexic, she may be slim but she's healthy, so she thinks. Her girlfriend told her she wouldn't tell her she was attracted to her because it would encourage her to stay that size. But she refuses to change for anyone.

It stresses me out because she can act quite righteous about it, like what everyone else is doing is wrong. but at least my skin isn't covered in down, turning to grey, teeth rotting and bones sticking out.

What's sad about that is she always goes on about how good her skin is but she actually has a rash over one side of her face. And oh yeah her weekly food shopping is like 10 dollars.
(i know this isn't what veganism is about but some people do abuse the word to feel good about themselves)

Hello Becky, thank you so much for being brave and writing about this experience with your friend. As you know, and have said here, your friend is using the word Vegan to hide behind, and is not well. If this person were someone I cared about, I might try and get her some help. Is she in contact with her parents or any family? Have you spoken with them? If you live in the USA, ask a local police officer (you can call anonymously) about how a '51/50' works, and they can guide you through the process. I, for one, would want to know I had done everything in my power to help someone who was spiralling downwards, even if, at the time, they hated me for attempting it. ~ shuna

[Sykes]

Aaron (some posts above) wrote that is requires constant vigilance to be a vegetarian/vegan in order to be healthy. Yes and no.

To be a vegetarian and be healthy is actually very easy. Vegetarians need to be watchful of having enough vitamin B12 which however you can get from dairy products and eggs.

To be a vegan, however, does indeed require vigilance.

Lots of Buddhist monks and nuns in Asian are vegetarians. They don't obsess over food like seems to be the trend among vegetarians in western countries.

[Kim]

This is in response to your post on veganism and Eating Disorders. I am vegan and have long since recovered from anorexia. I think it easy to see how these comparisons can be made, although if you look deeper, you can certainly see that the correlation is not as deep as it originally seems.

People with anorexia typically develop a series of "safe" foods. These foods are low in calories/fat and someone with an ED with make just about any excuse in the book to get out of eating a particular food. My anorexia developed when I was 11 and I subsisted on an apple/day. If I knew that there was such a thing as a fruitarian, I would have gone to my grave espousing the benefits of a fruitarian diet and the evil nature of non-fruit based food. It would have been just another way to get out of yet another meal or another hospital threat.

And yet, this doesn't take anything away from the fact that one year later I would become a vegetarian on ethical grounds after learning that a horse at a barn where I rode was sold at an auction and purchased by a slaughterhouse. Or the fact that my parents were rightfully concerned when I became vegetarian of a potential relapse.

Whether we like it or not, there are similarities. But being an ethical vegan/vegetarian certainly does NOT cause one to develop an eating disorder. Many people become vegetarian when they are adolescents and are beginning to question societal assumptions. This often times occur parallel to when adolescents are feeling the most uncomfortable and vulnerable with their body.

Remember that food and/or the lack of it, is used by people to fill a variety of voids in their lives, often times before appropriate coping mechanism have been developed (as in the situation with teenagers). I have known a number of people that were suffering from an ED to suddenly become “vegetarian”, yet go back to eating meat once they recovered. But there are also people like me, who are recovered and will gladly eat the occasional curry made with satisfying, yet fattening coconut milk, but would never consider eating a curry made with dairy based milk…