Former anorexics becoming vegan

[Anonymous]

Vegans look so unhealthy and anorexic to me.

[Anonymous]

Vegan is often code word for eating disorders

[Anonymous]

I am a pescatarian. I used to be probably borderline anorexic and I still have a messed up relationship with food and my weight, even though I’m a lot healthier now. That isn’t the reason I’m pescatarian, but there are a lot of meat dishes (hamburgers, for example) id never touch due to calories (among other reasons).

[Anonymous]

I’ve been a vegetarian for 40 years and aspire to be a vegan one day. I can assure you I don’t have issues with food and I’m by no means anorexic. As usual, this reads like a an indirect jab at vegans.

[Anonymous]

In teens, I notice it the other way around. So many times a teen becomes vegetarian, then vegan, then cuts out high calorie vegan foods like nuts. And then is diagnosed with anorexia. It's like become vegetarian is the gateway to developing the eating disorder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a vegetarian for 40 years and aspire to be a vegan one day. I can assure you I don’t have issues with food and I’m by no means anorexic. As usual, this reads like a an indirect jab at vegans.

I do understand that it must feel that way, but really, it isn't.

It's only because veganism can be quite healthy and make a lot of sense as a dietary choice (for many reasons) that it is used as a cover by people with disordered eating.

Anonymous wrote:In teens, I notice it the other way around. So many times a teen becomes vegetarian, then vegan, then cuts out high calorie vegan foods like nuts. And then is diagnosed with anorexia. It's like become vegetarian is the gateway to developing the eating disorder.

The causality can go either way. Restricting in certain specific ways can trigger an eating disorder in people with predisposition, or someone who is already deciding to restrict can find cover unfer calling it vegetarianism or veganism.

[Anonymous]

^^under

[Anonymous]

Eating disorders are a compulsion. So- if veganism is part of a restructuring compulsion it’s the same & needs to be treated as such

[Anonymous]

I’m vegan, and none of the vegans I know in real life have eating disorders, but about 95% of the ones who make a living promoting a vegan “lifestyle” on social media do. The ones I know in real life also don’t give AF if other people are vegan, or fall off the wagon, or whatever, it’s the online ones who are crazy fanatics.

I’m surprised that the vegans you know don’t eat much. I don’t eat much at some restaurants because their vegan options are disgusting, but the rest of the time I eat a ton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m vegan, and none of the vegans I know in real life have eating disorders, but about 95% of the ones who make a living promoting a vegan “lifestyle” on social media do. The ones I know in real life also don’t give AF if other people are vegan, or fall off the wagon, or whatever, it’s the online ones who are crazy fanatics.

I’m surprised that the vegans you know don’t eat much. I don’t eat much at some restaurants because their vegan options are disgusting, but the rest of the time I eat a ton.

+1 Same! I eat a ton as a vegan but agree the ones on social media have eating disorders.

[Anonymous]

Yes. This is/was me. In “recovery” from anorexia and became vegan. It allowed me to restrict my calories sort of naturally without having to count/measure every bite of food (behaviors that had to go because I was recovering, right?). Did I mention I was also training for a marathon and running 80 miles a week?

A funny thing happened though. Gradually as I began to eat more (vegan) food, the idea of food in general became a lot less scary and little by little I felt comfortable enough to add in dairy products, then eggs, and finally chicken and fish. (I’m still working on beef and processed meats which are a huge huge fear food for me.). I had a delicious dinner last night that included some baked chicken, and tonight I ate a grilled cheese sandwich with my kids.

I am a year into recovery now and I have reached a healthy weight for my height. I still struggle with certain behaviors (timings of meals is a huge issue) but I am much much better. I have my period back and I no longer worry my heart will fail in my sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a vegetarian for 40 years and aspire to be a vegan one day. I can assure you I don’t have issues with food and I’m by no means anorexic. As usual, this reads like a an indirect jab at vegans.

Of course not all, or not even most, vegans have eating disorders. But people with eating disorders will use veganism among many other things to cover up their illness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. This is/was me. In “recovery” from anorexia and became vegan. It allowed me to restrict my calories sort of naturally without having to count/measure every bite of food (behaviors that had to go because I was recovering, right?). Did I mention I was also training for a marathon and running 80 miles a week?

A funny thing happened though. Gradually as I began to eat more (vegan) food, the idea of food in general became a lot less scary and little by little I felt comfortable enough to add in dairy products, then eggs, and finally chicken and fish. (I’m still working on beef and processed meats which are a huge huge fear food for me.). I had a delicious dinner last night that included some baked chicken, and tonight I ate a grilled cheese sandwich with my kids.

I am a year into recovery now and I have reached a healthy weight for my height. I still struggle with certain behaviors (timings of meals is a huge issue) but I am much much better. I have my period back and I no longer worry my heart will fail in my sleep.

This is great. Good job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m vegan, and none of the vegans I know in real life have eating disorders, but about 95% of the ones who make a living promoting a vegan “lifestyle” on social media do. The ones I know in real life also don’t give AF if other people are vegan, or fall off the wagon, or whatever, it’s the online ones who are crazy fanatics.

I’m surprised that the vegans you know don’t eat much. I don’t eat much at some restaurants because their vegan options are disgusting, but the rest of the time I eat a ton.

OP here. Read my post again. I know vegans that eat a lot but I’m specifically asking about friends/acquaintances that I know to be former anorexics who have become vegan.

I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me before but seeing how thin this one friend has gotten set off alarm bells today. She’s also gluten free fwiw. I’m so sad for her and her daughters. She’s always saying how she doesn’t want them to have food issues.

[Anonymous]

My friend’s daughter was vegan and anorexic. She has gained weight and looks good now, but is still vegan. She has received a lot of counseling and is on a very structured program as far as what she eats. She is an incredible animal lover and I think her veganism arose out of that and is very important to her.