Can veganism mask or trigger eating disorders?
Summary
Research shows a correlation between vegetarian/vegan diets and disordered eating, but the relationship is complex. For some individuals, veganism provides a socially acceptable framework for food restriction. For others, ethical veganism is entirely separate from body image or restriction. Clinicians and individuals should be aware of this intersection without assuming that all veganism is pathological.
Supported by 2 cited sources
Key Points
- 1Multiple studies have found a statistical association between vegetarian and vegan diets and symptoms of disordered eating, particularly orthorexia nervosa — an obsessive focus on eating "pure" or "clean" foods (Barthels et al., 2022).
- 2However, correlation is not causation.
- 3A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis (Gortat et al.) found that adults following vegetarian/vegan diets were approximately twice as likely to report orthorexia nervosa symptoms compared to omnivores.
- 4The Academy for Eating Disorders and other professional bodies recommend screening for disordered eating when patients adopt any restrictive dietary pattern, including veganism. This is appropriate clinical practice, not anti-vegan bias.
Evidence Summary
This is a topic that requires care. Dismissing the concern enables harm. Weaponising it against all vegans is equally unhelpful. The evidence supports a nuanced middle ground.
What the research shows
In a study of German adults, vegan participants showed higher orthorexia scores on the Dusseldorf Orthorexia Scale than omnivores (Barthels et al., 2022).
The relationship likely runs in multiple directions:
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Restriction seeking cover: Some individuals with existing anorexia or restrictive tendencies adopt veganism as a socially acceptable way to limit food options. The ethical framing provides justification for refusing foods in social situations. In an online community questionnaire, vegans scored lower than omnivores on a measure of pathological eating behavior, although effect sizes for eating-related comparisons were generally small (Heiss et al., 2017).
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Ethical vegans with healthy relationships to food: Many long-term ethical vegans show no signs of disordered eating. Their food choices are motivated by animal welfare, not body image or control. Research distinguishes between health-motivated and ethically motivated dietary restriction, with different psychological profiles (Heiss et al., 2017).
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Orthorexia and wellness culture: The rise of "clean eating" culture intersects with plant-based diets. Orthorexic tendencies may drive both the choice to go vegan and the obsessive monitoring of food quality, making veganism a correlate rather than a cause.
Risk factors to watch for
The concern is most relevant when veganism:
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Appears suddenly alongside rapid weight loss, particularly in adolescents
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Focuses primarily on elimination rather than building a varied, enjoyable diet
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Is accompanied by rigid rules about food purity, intense anxiety around "impure" foods, or social withdrawal around eating
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Serves as justification for skipping meals or refusing entire food categories beyond animal products (e.g., also eliminating oils, sugar, gluten, processed foods without medical reason)
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Coexists with body dysmorphia or intense preoccupation with weight and appearance
Risk factors that suggest healthy veganism
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Stable or appropriate weight maintained over time
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Varied diet including starches, fats, and treats — not just raw vegetables
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Primary motivation is ethical rather than weight-related or purity-related
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Comfortable eating in social situations and able to be flexible when options are limited
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No history of eating disorders or body image disturbance
What clinicians should know
However, clinicians should not:
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Assume all veganism is pathological
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Require patients to eat animal products as a condition of treatment (unless medically necessary in acute refeeding)
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Dismiss ethical motivations as rationalisation without assessment
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Conflate orthorexia with ethical veganism
A 2017 review noted that the relationship between vegetarianism and eating disorders is moderated by motivation: ethically motivated vegetarians showed different patterns from health-motivated vegetarians on measures of disordered eating (Heiss et al., 2017).
Key sources
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Barthels F, et al. (2022). "Orthorexic eating behaviour and vegan diet." Eating and Weight Disorders. 27:1427-1435.
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Heiss S, et al. (2017). "Vegetarian identity and experiences of orthorexia nervosa." Eat Weight Disord. 22:483-489.
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Zuromski KL, et al. (2015). "The interaction between vegetarianism and eating disorders." IJED. 48:S58.
Latest Research (2025)
Clinical Consensus
Eating disorder specialists generally recommend that individuals in active recovery from restrictive eating disorders should not adopt any new dietary restrictions — including veganism — until their relationship with food has stabilized. This is not because veganism is inherently disordered, but because any additional food rules can reinforce restrictive patterns.
For those with stable recovery, a vegan diet pursued for ethical reasons (not weight control) with professional support can be appropriate.
However, 8 of 13 studies found no association between veganism and general disordered eating — the association is specifically with orthorexia.
The causal direction remains unclear. A 2018 study found that 6-16% of eating disorder patients were vegan, compared to ~1% of the general population (Heiss et al., 2022). But it is not established that veganism causes eating disorders. Individuals already prone to restrictive eating may be drawn to veganism as a socially acceptable framework for food restriction.
Supporting Evidence
The Bottom Line
Veganism does not cause eating disorders. But it can be co-opted by eating disorders. Both of these statements can be true simultaneously. Awareness of this intersection protects vulnerable people without discrediting veganism as an ethical position.
Practical Takeaways
Harm reduction approach
If you or someone you know is vegan and may be struggling with disordered eating:
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Acknowledge the concern without shame. Having an eating disorder does not invalidate ethical beliefs about animals.
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Seek support from a dietitian experienced with both eating disorders and vegan nutrition. Many exist and can help separate legitimate ethical choices from restriction-driven behavior.
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Honesty is essential: If veganism is primarily serving as a restriction tool, addressing the underlying disorder is more important than maintaining dietary identity.
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Recovery may temporarily require flexibility around food choices. This does not mean abandoning vegan values permanently — it means prioritising survival and recovery.
What the vegan community should do
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Avoid promoting extreme restriction, "detox" diets, or food purity messaging
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Recognize that "junk food veganism" can be a valid and healthy relationship with food
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Create space for people to discuss struggles without judgment
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Stop equating thinness with successful veganism
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Support harm reduction approaches rather than all-or-nothing messaging
Sources & Evidence
2 sources cited across 3 claims
Some individuals with existing anorexia or restrictive tendencies adopt veganism as a...
ObservationalFor those with stable recovery, a vegan diet pursued for ethical reasons (not weight...
GuidelineFocuses primarily on elimination rather than building a varied, enjoyable diet
Guideline