Are vegetarians ever overweight?

Question

I would think that people who avoid eating meat and only eat everything other than meat would never be overweight. What do you know on this topic?

Also...don't consider the people that are overweight to begin with and then later become vegetarian.

Answer 1

Yep, because weight is gained from taking in too many calories and not burning more than one takes in.

Answer 2

Some vegetarians can become overweight because they do not get enough protein. This is an issue, because cheese may contain rennet and pepsin, two animal derived enzymes used in the cheese making process. Tofu, legumes, and other soy products are sources of protein, but are not equivalent to actual beef, chicken, or poultry.
Thus, vegetarians will eat more starches, because lack of protein in the diet will make them feel less full after they have eaten. In the end, there will be an overconsumption of calories, much more than if they were eating a healty diet with enough protein.
But not all vegetarians are overweight. With the right proportion of protein and carboydrates it is possible to be not over weight.

Answer 3

Anyone can be overweight. Just because you are vegetarian does not mean you know how to be a healthy vegetarian. Some vegetarians eat a lot of pastas, breads, etc. These can cause weight gain. So does eating too many of those prepackaged burgers,patties, etc. A lot of vegetarians turn to those foods(especially in the beginning). Even a vegetarian diet needs to be varied among pastas, vegetables, beans/nuts, etc.

Vegetarians may still choose to eat junk food, which is very high in calories. A handful of cookies is often as much caloires as a meal. It depends on what the person is eating.

Answer 4

It has been my experience that the more packaged veg foods I eat, the more I gain weight slowly over time. Even if I eat roughly the same amount of calories! I do think vegans are less likely to be overweight than vegetarians, because vegetarians so often turn to carbs and cheese/dairy. It does seem to fall off again as they (and I) become more comfortable with branching out and trying more veggies and fruits.

Answer 5

yes.........I became a veggie 15 years ago when I was 13. They didn't have all the vegetarian foods that they do now. I said no to meat and eggs and fish, but quickly found junk food. I was also the first veg in my eastern european meat eating family. No one knew what to feed me other than lettuce!
Because being a vegetarian can get expensive and time consuming it is easy to fall into the trap of junk food or even adding cheese and other dairy products to EVERY meal. Eating out is another big one! That can easily and quickly add pounds!!

Answer 6

one among my pals is vegetarian and that i imagine the reason she is overweight is because she eats in elementary words junk foodstuff. Like lollies and chips (which do not contain meat lol). She would not even eat vegetables or fruit and he or she calls herself vegetarian. i imagine truly some vegetarians say they're yet are truly junkfoodians (if that's even one of those weight-relief plan). even notwithstanding, there are real vegetarians who eat fruit and greens and that i trust those human beings does no longer be overweight because they're protecting a healthful diet.

Answer 7

I have known lots of people who were considerably overweight when they began being Vegetarian, but within 6 months or so, the weight usually comes off.
That is dependent upon NOT eating vegetarian junk food, as the above poster pointed out.
Good luck

Answer 8

I am a vegetarian and I am somewhat overweight
5' 7" and 253 lbs! I was skinny before I became a vegetarian! Meat was blocking my arteries when I was a meat eater! I eat too much pasta especially perogies or pizza!

Answer 9

Yes, vegetarians can be overweight for a variety of reasons including thyroid problems. However the fact is vegetarians as a whole tend to be less over weight than their meat eating counterparts.

Answer 10

Yes they can be of course. It depends on the person's metabolism, the amount of daily calories, their physical activities. I agree with others who mentioned junk food, sweet things... Just a piece of cake is about 400 calories, a small pack of chips 300 calories. It adds up.
But then again even if they are overweight at least their risk of heart attack and other illnesses are not as high as people who eat meat.

Answer 11

Yes, my aunt has been a vegetarian for years and she is overweight. The reason: Some vegetarians eat a lot of starches. For example: rice, potatoes, pasta, ice cream. Meat does not cause you to gain weight, unless you fry it.