Restrained Eating and Vegan, Vegetarian and Omnivore Dietary Intakes.

Anna Brytek-Matera

doi:10.3390/nu12072133

Abstract

There are a significant number of studies on cognitive restraint among individuals with varying dietary patterns. Although most research has found that vegetarians report higher levels of cognitive restraint compared to non-vegetarians, many studies have contributed inconsistent results. The aim of the current study, therefore, was to assess any differences between groups with varying dietary patterns on cognitive restraint and other disordered eating pattern. The second objective was to examine determinants of cognitive restraint in individuals adhering to a vegan diet, a vegetarian diet and an omnivore diet. Two-hundred and fifty-four participants with varying dietary patterns completed the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire and the Eating Habits Questionnaire. Our results indicated that both vegetarian and vegan groups showed a significantly lower cognitive restraint, lower emotional eating and lower uncontrolled eating than those who followed an omnivorous diet. In addition, these both groups following a plant-based diet have shown more cognitions, behaviours and feelings related to an extreme focus on healthy eating (orthorexia nervosa) than group following an omnivorous diet. There were no significant differences between the groups in perseverative thinking. Core characteristics of repetitive negative thinking was a significant predictor of cognitive restraint in vegans. Feeling positively about healthy eating predicted cognitive restraint among vegetarians. Problems associated with healthy eating and feeling positively about healthy eating predicted cognitive restraint among individuals following an omnivorous diet. Knowledge of predictors of cognitive restraint may serve as a psychological intervention goal or psychoeducation goal among individuals with varying dietary patterns.

Highlights

A healthy vegetarian eating pattern provides recommendations to meet the dietary guidelines for those who follow a meat-free diet [1]
The current study was designed to determine whether differences in cognitive restraint and other disordered eating patterns exist between individuals adhering to plant-based diet and those adhering to an omnivorous diet
Our findings show that both groups following a plant-based diet show more cognitions, behaviours and feelings related to an extreme focus on healthy eating defined as orthorexia nervosa than groups following an omnivorous diet

Summary

Introduction

A healthy vegetarian eating pattern provides recommendations to meet the dietary guidelines for those who follow a meat-free diet [1]. The healthy vegetarian eating pattern includes increased intake of legumes (beans and peas), soy products ( tofu and other processed soy products), nuts and seeds and whole grains. It contains no meats, poultry or seafood. The decision to adhere to a vegetarian diet is reported to be influenced by ethics reasons (e.g., moral considerations), health reasons (e.g., concern for potential disease, control of weight), concern. In contrast to a vegetarian diet, a vegan diet excludes (a) animal products (eggs, dairy, beeswax and honey, leather products and goose-fat shoe polish); (b) garlic, onion, spring onion, scallions and leeks (c) products that may contain animal ingredients not included in their labels or which use animal products in their manufacturing, e.g., cheeses that use animal rennet (enzymes from animal stomach lining), gelatin (from animal skin, bones and connective tissue); (d) some sugars that are whitened with bone char (e.g., cane sugar but not beet sugar) [2].

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion