Vegan diets and Veganism are diet styles made up of only plant-based foods. The core foundation is to abstain from eating animal products. This is also sometimes accompanied by the refusal to use animal products in any way (think leather bags) and is associated with a philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals.
Prior to 2020, vegan diets were increasing in popularity. Several reasons drive people to this lifestyle including health, ethical and environmental reasons (Dennett, 2020). But now, again, it seems veganism is on the rise. In response to the COVID 19 crisis, there has been an increased desire for optimal well-being and there is more attention on how the U.S. manages meat production.
In general, though, veganism is not “common”. One article reports that ~3% of Americans are vegans (Kirkwood, 2020). And of the small number that adheres to this type of eating lifestyle, there is a misconception that anyone who is a vegan may have disordered habits. One dietitian, Taylor Wolfram, finds this issue more amongst providers than the common public (Dennett, 2020).
While we often explore with our vegan clients how their eating may affect their eating disorder recovery, in truth this is what we do in our practice regardless of eating preference.
For years, many treatment centers would not admit or care for clients who were vegans. Particularly for those who required inpatient or residential care. These vegan clients would have to agree to eat animal products in order to enroll. This creates many issues for vegans seeking treatment. Tammy Beasley, VP at Alsana ED Treatment Center states that these particular clients on average wait two years before they will seek treatment again (Dennett, 2020)...NOT GOOD!
However, the positive news is many more centers are now working with vegans, including Alsana which now accepts vegan patients as of 2019. Beasley herself admitted to having some preconceived notions about vegan diets and eating disorders after reading a 2003 research paper published by Klopp and colleagues. However, ultimately this study classified those eating one meatless meal a week as “semi - vegetarians”. I’m not sure about you, but I do this often and don’t consider myself a vegetarian. The study population was also young white females, statistically already a high-risk group (Dennett, 2020).
The truth is that individuals can meet their nutritional needs via vegan and vegetarian diets. We at Integrated Eating Dietetics-Nutrition have worked with vegan clients for several years and support them to achieve recovery-oriented nutrition.
The challenge in treatment is helping our vegan clients decipher if this dietary choice is influenced by their eating disorder. We consider if their choice to limit animal-based foods is driven by the eating disorder or true personal wants? This is what recovery is all about!
Beasley recently casually surveyed fellow dietitians working with eating disorders, finding 98% of them were supporting clients following a vegan diet. In addition, 90% of those clients became vegan after developing an eating disorder. These lines can become quite blurred, which is why a secure treatment team is so valuable. Even if someone is vegan for true ethical reasons, the diet can sometimes get the upper hand. Vegans, just like others, are vulnerable to diet culture. There are many “disordered messages within the plan-based space”, Wolfram states. In addition, those who follow ketogenic, Whole 30, paleo are also vulnerable to disordered eating habits. Any type of “diet” that eliminates food groups, leaves a person susceptible to an eating disorder.
Ask yourself this; as a vegan would you eat vegan ice cream? Would you eat vegan “meat” or cheese? This can help navigate where the discomfort or potential eating disorder thoughts live.
Check yourself for any disruptions to normal eating; do you find it hard to go out to dinner, do you spend a great deal of time prepping food? Does it feel obsessive? This might be a reason to consider changing up your meal habits. It might not be working for you and your optimal health.
Integrated Eating continues their commitment to support those in recovery regardless of diet preference. If you’re a vegan in recovery, please know we and many other nutrition professionals are available to help you navigate your diet.
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