Veganism and Eating Disorders
Veganism is an extreme form of vegetarianism that involves abstaining from the use of all animal products, and an associated philosophy that rejects the exploitation of animals. Veganism is an ethical stance that encompasses food choices and is often perceived as a fad diet or a form of disordered eating. While choosing to forgo meat and animal byproducts does not inherently indicate that an individual has an eating disorder, for some, veganism may serve as a cover for disordered eating behaviors.
Veganism is the practice of avoiding all animal products, particularly in the diet. Instead, vegans limit what they eat to only plant-based foods. Unlike vegetarians, vegans abstain from animal byproducts as well, such as butter, milk, cheese, and eggs. Decisions about the food we eat are very personal and influenced by many factors. Individuals may choose to become vegan for a variety of reasons, including religion, concerns for animal cruelty, environmental impact, health benefits, or personal preference. Those who choose the vegan lifestyle are still a small but growing percentage of the US population.
The vegan diet may be considered a “healthy” diet, in that it is plant-based. However, since it is highly restrictive, long-term adoption needs to be carefully planned. Vegans need to take extra precautions to prevent deficiencies of essential nutrients, such as iron, zinc, vitamin D, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids, and especially vitamin B12. B12 deficiency, if left untreated, can lead to permanent neurological damage.
Making conscious, purposeful choices about food, as vegans do, may not be a problem per se. Consuming a vegan diet does take extra work to maintain a balanced diet, but this is not impossible. It may be of concern, though, when any diet or lifestyle eliminates whole categories of foods and food groups, like the vegan diet, raising the question of whether the diet is sustainable long-term while sustaining adequate nourishment for health. When the restriction is taken to extremes, serious health consequences can occur, resulting in weight loss, nutrient deficiencies, and malnutrition.
In individuals who are predisposed (genetically or environmentally), restriction in the diet may increase the risk of developing an eating disorder, such as anorexia (an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat) or orthorexia (an obsession with eating foods that one considers healthy). Well-planned, vegan diets can be supportive of a full and healthy life but may be more difficult to navigate when simultaneously coupled with an eating disorder. Challenges can arise when patients with eating disorders use a highly restrictive vegan or vegetarian diet to disguise underlying disease.
Eating disorders can manifest in many ways, but the key underlying presentation is when the person’s relationship with food no longer supports a healthy, functioning, and full life. Disordered eating may start from a harmless place like adopting a more “healthy” diet, but can develop into a serious eating disorder when food rules become increasingly rigid at the expense of a full-functioning life. What and how we eat cannot solve all of life’s problems, as, for example, unwanted emotions, anxiety, etc. Rather, food should have a positive and supportive role, nourishing us with the energy needed to live our lives.
Discerning a healthful vegan lifestyle from an eating disordered vegan lifestyle is the job of a trained eating disorder specialist. It is unreasonable to assume that anyone adopting a vegan diet has an eating disorder much the same way we cannot assume all people with eating disorders are vegan. Vegans come in all shapes and sizes and so do individuals with eating disorders. Stereotypes serve only to create bias and barriers to accessing appropriate treatment services. When eating behaviors become all-consuming, affect relationships, and/or health, these are times to check in with an eating disorder specialist. Since every person is different and treatment for eating disorders requires an understanding of the whole person and individualized care, it is critical to work with dietitians and therapists that specialize in eating disorders like those at BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, we understand the complexities of eating disorders and provide you with comprehensive and necessary tools to help you on your recovery journey. To this end, we work closely with each client to better understand the spiritual and ethical frameworks that determine their food preferences. Within the safety of a supportive environment, we then reasonably accommodate those preferences while encouraging clients to gently increase food variety and scope. While at BALANCE, our clients will be exposed to a number of different foods and cuisines. This is part of our "real world" focus. Insofar as this focus allows, however, we honor our clients’ religious and philosophical backgrounds. Vegan, vegetarian, and kosher eating patterns are accommodated on a case by case basis.
Our admissions team would be glad to answer any questions you may have about our programs and services and how we can help you on your recovery journey. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below or read more about our philosophy here.