Vegetarianism and Eating-Disordered Thinking

Abstract

Two studies compared food choice motives and symptoms of eating disorders among vegetarians and nonvegetarians. The participants filled in a food choice questionnaire and completed an eating attitude test (EAT, Study 1) and eating disorder inventory (EDI, Study 2). The vegetarians scored higher on EAT and on the ineffectiveness, interpersonal distrust, and maturity fears suhscales of EDI than the nonvegetarians. However, no difference was found in the reported importance of weight control among the two groups. The results indicate that vegetarianism and eating disorders are not independent but rather are intertwined phenomena. The potential common links, for example the possibility that vegetarianism is being used as a smokescreen for more severe eating pathology, are discussed.