Medical Mondays: Vegetarianism
By: Kyna Grigsby
Updated: June 3, 2009
Is being a vegetarian a good thing?
Well, some studies say young people who choose to become vegetarians may be doing so for all the wrong reasons.
The study found teens who'd been vegetarians were more likely than other teens to have used laxatives, diet pills and purging as a way to control their weight.
Experts say teens who are overly concerned about weight may turn to vegetarianism as a way to cover up these unhealthy behaviors, so it's important for young people to explain why they want to become vegetarians in the first place.
Binge eating was also more common among vegetarians than those who'd never been vegetarians.
The findings come from surveys about the diets, weight and weight control habits of over 2,500 teens and young adults.
The good news was that overall, young vegetarians did have healthier diets, and were less likely to be overweight or obese than their meat-eating peers.
And, researchers find if you gain weight early in life, you won't be able to move around as well when you get older.
The study found women who were overweight from their 20's to their 70's were three times as likely to have mobility issues.
The risk for obese men was slightly less.
Researchers say extra weight can strain joints and make it harder to exercise.
