Vegetarianism in anorexia nervosa? A review of 116 consecutive cases.
A retrospective study was carried out of 116 consecutive patients with anorexia nervosa to ascertain the extent and nature of vegetarianism in this population. Sixty-three (54.3%) patients were found to be avoiding red meat. In only four (6.3%) of these did meat avoidance predate the onset of their anorexia nervosa. Of the remaining 59 patients (best termed pseudovegetarians), 25 (42.4%) patients continued to avoid red meat by the end of treatment. Pseudovegetarianism was associated with a longer duration of anorexia nervosa, a lower weight during the course of their illness, and living away from the parental home. The reintroduction of red meat into the diet was more likely if vegetarianism were of a short duration.
Department of Nutrition, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW.
M A
MA
O'Connor
S W
SW
Touyz
S M
SM
Dunn
P J
PJ
Beumont
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D004032:Diet; D004033:Diet Fads; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D009517:New South Wales; D012189:Retrospective Studies