How does health and well-being of young Australian vegetarians [vegans] and semi-vegetarian women compare with non-vegetarians?
These data suggest that the mental health of vegetarian [vegan] and semi-vegetarian women is considerably poorer than that of non-vegetarian women in the same age group. The mental health scores for semi-vegetarians and vegetarians [vegans] were significantly lower than those for non-vegetarians.
Women in these groups also reported more depressive symptoms and deliberate self-harm, findings which are consistent with studies of adolescents. The vegetarians [vegans] and semi-vegetarians were also more likely to be taking medication ‘for depression’. Although our findings are suggestive of a link between the avoidance of red meat and poorer mental health, it is not possible to state from these cross-sectional data whether any specific dietary deficiencies are the cause of these differences in mental health or the direction of any relationship between these variables.
In this study of young women, vegetarians and semi- vegetarians reported more menstrual symptoms (irregularity, premenstrual tension and severe period pain) than non-vegetarian women.
The higher prevalence of constipation among vegetarian and semi-vegetarian women was unexpected and contradicted the findings of previous studies. However, constipation is a well-recognised symptom of people with eating disorders, a trait more likely to be displayed among young vegetarians than-vegetarians.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6411446_How_does_health_and_well-being_of_young_Australian_vegetarian_and_semi-vegetarian_women_compare_with_non-vegetarians
School of Health Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetics, Box 38, Hunter Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia.
Public Health Nutrition (Impact Factor: 2.68). 05/2007; 10(5):436-42. DOI: 10.1017/S1368980007217938
