Do you agree that all vegans are really just anorexics covering up their disorder?

Question

I don't believe that ALL vegans are anorexic, but in my experience, every vegan I ever met was either anorexic or bulimic. I once knew a guy who was vegan, didn't seem eating disordered, but passed out from malnutrition.
If you're vegan, what are your reasons, and what do you think of anorexics who claim to be vegan to cover up their disorder?

In response to iAm:
I'm asking for your opinion and then I gave you my own, no I don't think all vegans are eating disordered.
My question is clear, you just have issues reading it. Sorry I couldn't dumb it down for you.

iAm I asking for others opinions on the matter, that simple, but I suppose it is hard for you to comprehend, it's not backtracking, it's asking a question. I'm not putting vegans in a negative light, I'm asking for opinions. Try reading the question better instead of taking to it offensivley, but judging from your photo you don't appear to be too bright anyway.

Answer 1

I will be honest.

I suffered from an eating disorder from the time I was 12 years old until I was about 17/18.

I began attempting vegetarianism at the age of 10. However with mama making all my meals and an attitude of "eat what I fix or starve"... I either ate meat at a meal or two, maybe 3 a day, or I didn't eat.

Once I was 17 and out of my parent's house, I was definitely vegetarian, and began trying to follow a vegan lifestyle.

Once I became vegan I no longer felt the need to control my eating in the way I once did. I began to feel confident that what I was putting into my body was NOT overly processed, artificially enhanced and injected with growth hormones and antibiotics. I found that I could have a satisfying meal without feeling guilty afterwards. I found that I could FILL my stomach and give nutrients to my body without feeling ill or sick.

I think the main reason for my eating disorder was the discomfort so many foods caused me. The foods my mother prepared for me were rich and full of animal products (chicken broth, butter, sour cream, cream cheese, hamburger stroganoff, etc). After eating I always felt bloated and sickly, like I had "poisoned" myself. So I would restrict my food intake, thinking maybe I was just a gross disgusting slob who ate too much, and I needed to cut back. Eventually I started SEEING myself as a fat disgusting slob. It's really not that big a stretch - I'd eat, get bloated and distended, look in the mirror and see FAT!!

Well I stopped eating as much and still felt bad.

So I stopped eating more. That didn't really help either. Just cutting back on the stuff I already ate didn't seem to make a difference. I started looking up "calorie free" foods and was tickled to find that fresh fruits and veggies have "like no calories at all". And it began...

I found my tummy didn't hurt when I only ate from the "rainbow diet" which was something I made up. It involved fresh, raw, fruits & veggies. It involved the ROYGBV code: Red foods on Sunday, Orange foods on Monday, Yellow... etc. That meant on Monday I'd eat an apple, a red bell pepper, etc...

I realized I could eat veggies and fruits all day long and my tummy wouldn't hurt, I wouldn't get bloated. I would get a burst of energy after eating instead of feeling lethargic, I would feel "clean" inside (probably all the extra fiber and roughage!!) instead of "weighed down" and best of all, I felt "healthy" instead of "poisoned".

It took me until I was much much older to even realize I was lactose intolerant. It's kind of hard to notice that when you're a little kid and everything you eat has dairy in it... Once I cut out all the dairy I noticed a QUICK end to my intestinal upset and feelings of "grossness" after meals. As for meat, I don't know why, but I've never liked it. It feels too greasy, too heavy, too rich for my body. I feel uncomfortable and sluggish after eating meat. So I don't.

I now feel that the diet I was fed as a child was not particularly what my body needed, then or now.

I am now 21 years old. I believe I am fully "recovered" from my problems with eating.

Now I have a very healthy body image. I don't worry about my weight. And I don't feel like I am "poisoning" my body with foods it can't properly digest.

I must also say that I KNOW for a fact I am eating a healthy diet. I follow the food pyramid, I eat TONS of fresh fruits and vegetables, AS WELL AS grains, legumes, soy, dairy-free spreads similar to butter, "veganaise", Soy Milk, casseroles, rice pilaf, pies, cakes, salads, you get the idea. I make sure I eat my fat (avocados, oils, nuts, seeds are natural sources of healthy fats) every day, I make sure I get natural sources of B vitamins and iron (bananas and dark leafy greens), protein (beans, tofu) and calcium (dark greens), as well as all the other important nutrients. And oddly enough, my strange little "rainbow diet" still comes into play when I'm grocery shopping. Only now instead of restricting myself to one color a day, I try to eat as many of the colors as I can each day.

I can eat food now.

I don't restrict my calories.

I don't count my grapes.

I don't measure my wheaties.

And I don't pinch my flesh in front of the mirror or weigh myself compulsively.

I just eat until I am satisfied, and I am TRULY satisfied knowing the food in my body won't give me grief.


NOW.

I also chose veganism for ethical reasons (I do not feel it is my place to "use" any animal, for any reason, not for my food, not for my shoes, not for my entertainment, not for my cosmetic testing)

I chose veganism for environmental reasons (think of it, if the grain grown to feed livestock was instead grown to feed PEOPLE who eat a hell of alot less than a cow, how many more people would be fed from that grain than from the cow??)

I chose veganism for "religious" reasons - "And it harm NONE, do what thou wilt" is my Golden Rule and only "religious" tenant.

And obviously, I chose veganism for health reasons as well.


And I have known plenty of anoretic/bulimic women and girls who "use" veganism. But after my experience, I am beginning to wonder... Alot of girls I've spoken with about eating disorders used the same terminology I did - feeling "poisoned" after eating... So you never know. Maybe there are some misdiagnosed vegans out there who mistakenly believe anorexia is the only way to feel "right" in their bodies... and because alot of them are young, they don't realize that they CAN eat things other than celery and "not get fat". A properly balanced vegan diet should not make you fat or skinny, it should put you where you "belong" on the scale. However an improperly balanced vegan diet (or vegetarian, or carnivorous) can lead to all sorts of health problems, from malnutrition to heart disease.

As for what I think of anoretics who "use" veganism... I really don't worry about their actions affecting how others percieve vegans in general. Instead I worry about how their actions might affect them. I used to run a website for eating disordered women, it was a help-based site encouraging women to address their issues with food or their bodies in a positive light instead of focusing on "how can I lose xx pounds by xx date". So I've seen 'em all, and I accepted them all, and supported them all, and encouraged them all to seek help and a better life than one revolving around food. Unfortunately I lost the site during a stressful time in my life, and have not been able to recover my missing members. Hopefully they all found answers and are all on the road to recovery, or better still, fully recovered.

Anorexia is nothing to mess with. It truly causes a warp in the mind. And after "being there" and pulling myself out of it, I realize what a dangerous route i was taking with my health by restricting my calories and reducing my food intake. However after "finding" veganism I really think it saved me from a very self-destructive path, and actually got me eating RIGHT for my body.


Oh for what it's worth...

I'm 5'4", I weigh around 115-120 lbs. I've had one child and I'm pregnant again.

I have excellent health, strong bones, bright eyes, healthy skin, nails, and hair... I am not "pale" at all, in fact I have a nice golden olive complexion and VERY smooth, acne-free skin which I take pride in... I have had a single stomach bug in the last year... little over a year ago I had the flu for 2 days... I do not catch colds, I do not have random tummy upsets... I make regular poo's every single day now, without the alternating constipation/diahrea of before... My periods never stopped from a vegan diet (however they did when I was anoretic)...

Answer 2

I'm a vegan and am definitely not anorexic or bulimic! I actually eat more than my friends, especially those that are on permanent diets... I just eat more healthy food as opposed to less unhealthy animal products full of cholesterol and saturated fat.

Fine, every vegan you've ever met might have been anorexic or bulimic but I find this hard to believe. How many vegans have you actually met anyway? I've met very few and the ones I have met look perfectly healthy and have lots of energy.

There are too many reasons (moral, health, environmental) why I'm vegan to go into now. There may be some anorexic or bulimic people that try to cover up their disorder by claiming they're vegan which does nothing for our cause but I can assure you that 'true' vegans do not have an eating disorder.

Answer 3

Every vegan i know is the recommended weight or like myself and overweight. as long as one eats a balanced diet they will be fine. i am vegan due to my beliefs that animals should live above homo sapiens.
of course there are some anorexic vegans some of whom may only call themself vegan as what they consider an excuse for this disorder which then gives others a bad name. there are anorexic everywhere. it is unfortunate that these people do this but they need help not redicual. Maby with better education on just what is a vegan diet and healthy ways might help them

Answer 4

No, I don't think so. I think most people who go vegan do it for ethical reasons. When people have health problems related to a vegetarian or vegan diet, it is either because they don't know enough about non-animal nutrition or because they aren't careful. I suppose it's possible that there are diseases and disorders out there that could be aggravated by a vegetarian or vegan diet, but I'm not familiar with any of them.

But you do have a point. Some people with eating disorders might claim health-motivated eating restrictions to help deflect questions from others. If there's someone in particular about whom you're concerned, you should ask them why they became vegan, or express your concern that they aren't taking in enough nutrients with their new diet. No accusations, just check in, especially if you notice them fainting or being extra-tired.

Answer 5

My sister is 23 and shes been vegan for over 10 years.
She is not in any way or form anorexic, she actually weighs more than me!
I was vegetarian for about 3 years and I did lose a lot of weight cause it's a really healthy diet especially if you eat the proteins like tofu and beans and stuff like that.

But i never heard of anorexic girls saying they were vegan to cover up their disorder, but that's kind of stupid I guess.

Answer 6

No, I don't believe that. I do not have an eating disorder. I thoroughly enjoy eating and sharing meals with people. I maintain a healthy body weight (I'm actually on the high end of healthy.)

It is true that *some* people who claim to be vegan or vegetarian are doing it to hide an eating disorder. It's convenient because it gives them an excuse to avoid eating certain foods. Other than that, there is NO correlation between the ethical choice to abstain from animal exploitation and a physchological disorder that warps body image.

Answer 7

haha no!
what kind of question is that?
and I'm sure the vegans you know/or knew didn't actually tell you they had eating disorders. are you kidding me? you sound like a moron, way to stereotype. There are also people that eat too much and they're still skinny are you going to assume they're anorexic, too?
people can be skinny without having eating disorders, it's time for you to accept that.

for your information I'm a vegan so are many of my friends and none of us have eating disorders. I think you need to be open minded.

Answer 8

i definitely dont believe all vegans have an eating disorder. Most of them dont have an eating disorder. they may be vegans becuz they are against the killing of animals, love animals, are munks, just dont want to eat meat....
and all vegans are not anorexic. i have seen many regular sized vegans. u can be vegan and still have a good nutrition

Answer 9

I would have to disagree with that assertion. Most vegans have very healthy appetites - you only have to look at the responses to some of the questions on YA asking for vegan recipes.

While there may be some people with eating disorders who are vegan, I don't think that the proportion would be any higher than in the wider population. Don't get me wrong, we enjoy the fact that on the whole we tend to be slimmer, but that's not a significant enough reason to be a vegan for most.

Most vegans choose their lifestyle because of concern about animal abuses within the modern farming industry. Many of us have had the appalling experience of witnessing what goes on in a slaughterhouse and have resolved that we will not support these practices by buying animal products when we know it has endured such cruelty.

Most people with eating disorders want to conceal their disease. Many veggies and vegans will tell you, when you tell people you don't eat animals they seem fixated on the fact. Saying you are vegan is certainly not a way to reduce attention focused on your eating habits, that's for sure.

Answer 10

I am vegan. I have a BMI of 25 and i overeat. I am vegan because dairy products are cruel and extremely unhealthy. I see a lot of people whose health is completely screwed up by eating dairy, and the fact that people eat dairy provides me with much of my income because it makes people ill and they then consult me.

My daughter lost a lot of weight a couple of years ago and i was very concerned about her. I would say she had an eating disorder at the time and she did go vegan, but i think it was more to do with finding the process of eating disturbing rather than actually being vegan. Her BMI was below 17, but we managed to get her eating better again and she is now far from being underweight. We have made a particular point of not making food an issue in our family, although everyone is veggie because we just are.

Answer 11

You are entitled you your own opionions but Im not sure I totally agree.
While there may be many vegans/vegtarians who have eating disorders, I think there are just as many people who eat meat (if not more) who do also.
Those of you trying to put the poor girl down with demeaning comments, remember that this site is purely based on ones questions and opinions. So have a heart