Vegetarian Nutrition

VN: Adolescence (2009)

• Assessment
  How does food intake of adolescent vegetarians compare to adolescent omnivores?

  • Conclusion

    Research on the dietary intake of adolescent vegetarians from several countries indicated that although the patterns differ somewhat among countries, adolescent vegetarians tended to consume fewer dairy products, snack foods and sweets than omnivorous adolescents. They tended to consume more vegetables than their omnivorous peers. Outside the US and Canada, adolescents who considered themselves vegetarian tended to eat more chicken or fish than their omnivorous counterparts.

  • Grade: II
    • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
    • Grade II is Fair;
    • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
    • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
    • Grade V is Not Assignable.
    • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
    • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
    • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
    • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
    • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
  • Evidence Summary: Food and Nutrient Intakes among Vegetarian Adolescents
    • Detail
    • Quality Rating Summary
      For a summary of the Quality Rating results, click here.
    • Worksheets
      • Donovan UM, Gibson RS. Dietary intakes of adolescent females consuming vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, and omnivorous diets. J Adolesc Health. 1996 Apr; 18(4): 292-300.
      • Greene-Finestone LS, Campbell MK, Gutmanis IA, Evers SE. Dietary intake among young adolescents in Ontario: associations with vegetarian status and attitude toward health. Prev Med. 2005 Jan; 40 (1): 105-111.
      • Larsson CL, Klock KS, Astrom AN, Haugejorden O, Johansson G. Food habits of young Swedish and Norwegian vegetarians and omnivores. Public Health Nutr. 2001; 4: 1,005-1,014.
      • Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Adolescent vegetarians. A behavioral profile of a school-based population in Minnesota. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997; 151(8): 833-838.
      • Perry CL, McGuire MT, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M. Adolescent vegetarians: how well do their dietary patterns meet the Healthy People 2010 objectives? Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002; 156 (5): 431-437.
      • Worsley A, Skrzypiec G. Teenage vegetarianism: Beauty or the beast? Nutrition Research. 1997; 17 (3): 391-404.
      • Worsley A, Skrzypiec G. Teenage vegetarianism: prevalence, social and cognitive contexts. Appetite. 1998 Apr; 30(2): 151-170.
  • Search Plan and Results: VN: Vegetarianism and Adolescence 2008
     
  Is disordered eating common among adolescent and young adult vegetarians?

  • Conclusion

    Studies show that disordered eating is common among self-defined adolescent and young adult vegetarians. However, the two studies that differentiate among types of vegetarians indicate that this is not true of all adolescent and young adult vegetarians.

  • Grade: II
    • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
    • Grade II is Fair;
    • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
    • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
    • Grade V is Not Assignable.
    • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
    • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
    • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
    • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
    • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
  • Evidence Summary: What are the motivations behind adolescent vegetarianism, and is disordered eating common?
    • Detail
    • Quality Rating Summary
      For a summary of the Quality Rating results, click here.
    • Worksheets
      • Aarnio K, Lindeman M. Magical food and health beliefs: a portrait of believers and functions of the beliefs. Appetite. 2004 Aug; 43 (1): 65-74.
      • Bas, Murat; Karabudak, Efsun; Kiziltan, Gül. Vegetarianism and eating disorders: Association between eating attitudes and other psychological factors among Turkish adolescents. Appetite, Jun2005, Vol. 44 Issue 3, pp. 309-315.
      • Donovan UM, Gibson RS. Dietary intakes of adolescent females consuming vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, and omnivorous diets. J Adolesc Health. 1996 Apr; 18(4): 292-300.
      • Fessler D, Arguello A, Mekdara J, Macias R. Disgust sensitivity and meat consumption: a test of an emotivist account of moral vegetarianism. Appetite. 2003; 41: 31-41.
      • Gale C, Deary I, Schoon I, Batty GD. IQ in childhood and vegetarianism in adulthood: 1970 British cohort study. BMJ. 2007; 334: 245.
      • Greene-Finestone LS, Campbell MK, Gutmanis IA, Evers SE. Dietary intake among young adolescents in Ontario: associations with vegetarian status and attitude toward health. Prev Med. 2005 Jan; 40 (1): 105-111.
      • Greene-Finestone, L.S., Campbell, M.K., Evers, S.E., Gutmanis, I.A. Attitudes and health behavoirs of young adolescent omnivores and vegetarians: A school-based study. Appetite 2008; 51: 104-110.
      • Jabs, D., Devine, C., Sobal, J. (1998). Model of the Process of Adopting Vegetarian Diets: Health Vegetarians and Ethical Vegetarians. Journal of Nutrition Education. 30 (4): 196.
      • Kenyon PM, Barker ME. Attitudes towards meat-eating in vegetarian and non-vegetarian teenage girls in England--an ethnographic approach. Appetite. 1998 Apr; 30(2): 185-198.
      • Kim EHJ, Schroeder KM, Houser RF, Dwyer JT. Two small surveys, 25 years apart investigating motivations of dietary choice in two groups of vegetarians in the Boston area. J Am Diet Assoc. 1999; 99: 598-601.
      • Larsson CL, Klock KS, Astrom AN, Haugejorden O, Johansson G. Food habits of young Swedish and Norwegian vegetarians and omnivores. Public Health Nutr. 2001; 4: 1,005-1,014.
      • Larsson CL, Rönnlund U, Johansson G, Dahlgren L. Veganism as status passage: The process of becoming a vegan among youths in Sweden. Appetite. 2003; 41: 61-68.
      • Lea E, Worsley A. The cognitive contexts of beliefs about the healthiness of meat. Public Health Nutr. 2002; 5 (1): 37-45.
      • Lea E, Worsley A. Benefits and barriers to the consumption of a vegetarian diet in Australia. Public Health Nutr. 2003 Aug; 6 (5): 505-511.
      • Martins Y, Pliner P, O'Connor R. Restrained eating among vegetarians: Does a vegetarian eating style mask concerns about weight? Appetite. 1999 Feb; 32 (1): 145-154.
      • Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Adolescent vegetarians. A behavioral profile of a school-based population in Minnesota. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997; 151(8): 833-838.
      • Perry CL, McGuire MT, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M. Characteristics of vegetarian adolescents in a multiethnic urban population. J Adolesc Health. 2001 Dec; 29 (6): 406-416.
      • Perry CL, McGuire MT, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M. Adolescent vegetarians: how well do their dietary patterns meet the Healthy People 2010 objectives? Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002; 156 (5): 431-437.
      • Santos ML, Booth DA. Influences on meat avoidance among British students. Appetite. 1996 Dec; 27(3): 197-205.
      • Spencer EH, Elon LK, Frank E. Personal and professional correlates of US medical students' vegetarianism. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Jan; 107(1): 72-78.
      • Worsley A, Skrzypiec G. Teenage vegetarianism: Beauty or the beast? Nutrition Research. 1997; 17 (3): 391-404.
      • Worsley A, Skrzypiec G. Teenage vegetarianism: prevalence, social and cognitive contexts. Appetite. 1998 Apr; 30(2): 151-170.
  • Search Plan and Results: VN: Vegetarianism and Adolescence 2008
     
• Intervention
  What are the nutrient intakes of adolescent vegetarians compared to omnivores and nutritional standards?

  • Conclusion

    Studies from a limited number of Western countries indicate that adolescent vegetarians or semivegetarians may be more likely than adolescent omnivores to meet general national standards for some nutrients. However, they may also have lower intake than national standards for micronutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamin C. Because of the limited nature of the studies available, other nutrients, such as B₁₂, may also be of concern.

     

  • Grade: III
    • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
    • Grade II is Fair;
    • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
    • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
    • Grade V is Not Assignable.
    • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
    • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
    • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
    • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
    • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
  • Evidence Summary: Food and Nutrient Intakes among Vegetarian Adolescents
    • Detail
    • Quality Rating Summary
      For a summary of the Quality Rating results, click here.
    • Worksheets
      • Donovan UM, Gibson RS. Dietary intakes of adolescent females consuming vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, and omnivorous diets. J Adolesc Health. 1996 Apr; 18(4): 292-300.
      • Greene-Finestone LS, Campbell MK, Gutmanis IA, Evers SE. Dietary intake among young adolescents in Ontario: associations with vegetarian status and attitude toward health. Prev Med. 2005 Jan; 40 (1): 105-111.
      • Larsson CL, Klock KS, Astrom AN, Haugejorden O, Johansson G. Food habits of young Swedish and Norwegian vegetarians and omnivores. Public Health Nutr. 2001; 4: 1,005-1,014.
      • Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Adolescent vegetarians. A behavioral profile of a school-based population in Minnesota. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997; 151(8): 833-838.
      • Perry CL, McGuire MT, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M. Adolescent vegetarians: how well do their dietary patterns meet the Healthy People 2010 objectives? Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002; 156 (5): 431-437.
      • Worsley A, Skrzypiec G. Teenage vegetarianism: Beauty or the beast? Nutrition Research. 1997; 17 (3): 391-404.
      • Worsley A, Skrzypiec G. Teenage vegetarianism: prevalence, social and cognitive contexts. Appetite. 1998 Apr; 30(2): 151-170.
  • Search Plan and Results: VN: Vegetarianism and Adolescence 2008
     
  What are the motivations behind adolescent vegetarianism?

  • Conclusion

    Studies consistently find that animal rights and welfare and environmental concerns are most often listed as primary motivations behind adolescent vegetarianism in Western societies. Although health concerns are also cited as motivations for vegetarianism, they are less important in this population.

  • Grade: I
    • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
    • Grade II is Fair;
    • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
    • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
    • Grade V is Not Assignable.
    • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
    • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
    • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
    • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
    • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
  • Evidence Summary: What are the motivations behind adolescent vegetarianism, and is disordered eating common?
    • Detail
    • Quality Rating Summary
      For a summary of the Quality Rating results, click here.
    • Worksheets
      • Aarnio K, Lindeman M. Magical food and health beliefs: a portrait of believers and functions of the beliefs. Appetite. 2004 Aug; 43 (1): 65-74.
      • Bas, Murat; Karabudak, Efsun; Kiziltan, Gül. Vegetarianism and eating disorders: Association between eating attitudes and other psychological factors among Turkish adolescents. Appetite, Jun2005, Vol. 44 Issue 3, pp. 309-315.
      • Donovan UM, Gibson RS. Dietary intakes of adolescent females consuming vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, and omnivorous diets. J Adolesc Health. 1996 Apr; 18(4): 292-300.
      • Fessler D, Arguello A, Mekdara J, Macias R. Disgust sensitivity and meat consumption: a test of an emotivist account of moral vegetarianism. Appetite. 2003; 41: 31-41.
      • Gale C, Deary I, Schoon I, Batty GD. IQ in childhood and vegetarianism in adulthood: 1970 British cohort study. BMJ. 2007; 334: 245.
      • Greene-Finestone LS, Campbell MK, Gutmanis IA, Evers SE. Dietary intake among young adolescents in Ontario: associations with vegetarian status and attitude toward health. Prev Med. 2005 Jan; 40 (1): 105-111.
      • Greene-Finestone, L.S., Campbell, M.K., Evers, S.E., Gutmanis, I.A. Attitudes and health behavoirs of young adolescent omnivores and vegetarians: A school-based study. Appetite 2008; 51: 104-110.
      • Jabs, D., Devine, C., Sobal, J. (1998). Model of the Process of Adopting Vegetarian Diets: Health Vegetarians and Ethical Vegetarians. Journal of Nutrition Education. 30 (4): 196.
      • Kenyon PM, Barker ME. Attitudes towards meat-eating in vegetarian and non-vegetarian teenage girls in England--an ethnographic approach. Appetite. 1998 Apr; 30(2): 185-198.
      • Kim EHJ, Schroeder KM, Houser RF, Dwyer JT. Two small surveys, 25 years apart investigating motivations of dietary choice in two groups of vegetarians in the Boston area. J Am Diet Assoc. 1999; 99: 598-601.
      • Larsson CL, Klock KS, Astrom AN, Haugejorden O, Johansson G. Food habits of young Swedish and Norwegian vegetarians and omnivores. Public Health Nutr. 2001; 4: 1,005-1,014.
      • Larsson CL, Rönnlund U, Johansson G, Dahlgren L. Veganism as status passage: The process of becoming a vegan among youths in Sweden. Appetite. 2003; 41: 61-68.
      • Lea E, Worsley A. The cognitive contexts of beliefs about the healthiness of meat. Public Health Nutr. 2002; 5 (1): 37-45.
      • Lea E, Worsley A. Benefits and barriers to the consumption of a vegetarian diet in Australia. Public Health Nutr. 2003 Aug; 6 (5): 505-511.
      • Martins Y, Pliner P, O'Connor R. Restrained eating among vegetarians: Does a vegetarian eating style mask concerns about weight? Appetite. 1999 Feb; 32 (1): 145-154.
      • Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Adolescent vegetarians. A behavioral profile of a school-based population in Minnesota. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997; 151(8): 833-838.
      • Perry CL, McGuire MT, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M. Characteristics of vegetarian adolescents in a multiethnic urban population. J Adolesc Health. 2001 Dec; 29 (6): 406-416.
      • Perry CL, McGuire MT, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M. Adolescent vegetarians: how well do their dietary patterns meet the Healthy People 2010 objectives? Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002; 156 (5): 431-437.
      • Santos ML, Booth DA. Influences on meat avoidance among British students. Appetite. 1996 Dec; 27(3): 197-205.
      • Spencer EH, Elon LK, Frank E. Personal and professional correlates of US medical students' vegetarianism. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Jan; 107(1): 72-78.
      • Worsley A, Skrzypiec G. Teenage vegetarianism: Beauty or the beast? Nutrition Research. 1997; 17 (3): 391-404.
      • Worsley A, Skrzypiec G. Teenage vegetarianism: prevalence, social and cognitive contexts. Appetite. 1998 Apr; 30(2): 151-170.
  • Search Plan and Results: VN: Vegetarianism and Adolescence 2008