I’ve heard it said before that veganism is an eating disorder, and I couldn’t disagree more. So let’s talk about it, right here and right now.
The definitions
So, let’s get the definitions out of the way first.
Veganism, according to the Vegan Society, is “a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable— all forms of exploitation of and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans, and the environment. In dietary terms, it denotes the practice of dispensing of all products derived wholly or partly from animals.”
And according to psychiatry.org, “Eating disorders are behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and associated distressing thoughts and emotions. They can be very serious conditions affecting physical, psychological and social function.”
So, obviously these two terms have very different definitions. Veganism and eating disorders are two distinct things. But let’s look at where they intersect, and what happens there.
The similarities
So I think the two key points that people draw upon is food and behavior change. That’s really the main component of the argument here. And it’s true, going vegan does change your behavior around food sometimes (for some more than others). But do you really think that any change around food behaviors constitutes an eating disorder?
Perhaps someone is going on a diet for health reasons. Is that the same as an eating disorder? What if their doctor told them to cut down on a certain food? Or if they’re allergic? Or maybe they’ve just gained or lost taste for a particular flavor. There are many changes in food behaviors that don’t constitute an eating disorder. Heck, even recovery from an eating disorder falls into this category.
So I don’t want you to conflate any change in food intake or preferences with an eating disorder. It can be a sign of one, when taken with other indicators. That is indisputably true. However, simply changing how or what you eat is not an eating disorder all on its own.
Eating disorders are much more than food
I feel like the first blush of this idea is a misunderstanding of eating disorders. An eating disorder, when it comes down to it, really isn’t about the food. It’s about what’s happening in your brain, which manifests in your relationship with your body and your food intake.
I don’t mean to say that the dangers of eating disorders are purely mental or emotional. They have clear physical damages that they can cause to your physical person. However, the damage is not the same as the cause.
Eating disorders are entirely motivated by mental processes, or thinking gone awry. In the eating disorder recovery world, you’ll often hear the saying “It’s not what you’re eating, it’s what’s eating you.” And as trite and annoying as it may sound, it’s true. There are different reasons for developing an eating disorder, just like there are different kinds of eating disorders. But the root is always mental and emotional. That’s why going on a crash diet doesn’t automatically make you “anorexic”.
Veganism is much more than food
But similarly to eating disorders, veganism is about a lot more than food. First of all, your behavior change as a vegan will extend to any consumer goods—not just what you put in your mouth. So you might start buying different clothes or makeup or hygiene items. You might change how you spend your free time, if you had hobbies that involved the commodification of animals. There’s a lot of layers to this behavior change. While food is one of them, (and a prevalent one since that’s something you do everyday and people often see and share with you,) it’s not the only part of being vegan.
But also, there is a reason behind all of these changes, which is explained in the definition of veganism we discussed at the beginning. To step back from the use and exploitation of animals. So while a person with an eating disorder might not want to eat an ice cream sundae because of the amount of calories, sugar, or fat, (or the perceived unworthiness or out-of-controlness of the act), a vegan will not eat that same ice cream sundae because there were animals used to make that sundae. You will often find that if you make them a vegan ice cream sundae that’s just as delicious, they’ll eat that without a second thought. Just like you. Because vegans are people too, after all.
Some people are both vegan and eating disordered
Now, I don’t want you to think that I’m trying to say that being vegan precludes you from having an eating disorder. It doesn’t. Eating disorders reach people from all walks of life. All genders, ages, income brackets (etc). Vegans included.
If you come across someone who is vegan but also has an eating disorder, you can log that as a data point. But don’t assume that they represent all vegans. What they may or may not eat is not representative of the entire vegan population, nor is it representative of what you would have to eat if you decided to go vegan. They’re a person with an eating disorder. Just like any other person with an eating disorder, it’s nonsensical to expect them to be barometer of health and food fun.
Some people have an eating disorder and hide behind the vegan label
And there is another dangerous intersection that I’d like to talk about. There are also people with eating disorders who call themselves vegan who actually aren’t. What I mean is, they use the excuse “Oh, I’m vegan” as a way of avoiding food and nothing else. And you know what? After being vegan for eight years now, I get it.
There are lots of times when it seems like everyone’s eating, and even if they knew I was vegan beforehand, I end up with some pathetic-looking plate of plain rice or iceberg lettuce. It’s not enough, and it’s certainly not a meal. And sometimes there’s nothing at all. It’s for this reason I try to plan ahead. I ask questions, I eat before or bring snacks or plan what I’ll eat when I come back. I admit, it’d be an easy excuse if that’s how I wanted to use it.
It’s for this reason I would advise you to keep an eye on your loved ones. If you’re already concerned about someone’s eating and then they announce they’re vegan, that could be them looking for another excuse to avoid food. (Although, whether you’re worried for their health or not, if a loved one tells you they’re vegan, it’s a good thing to do to make sure that they can have a decent meal at your gathering too.)
But yes, just like being “sick” or “allergic” (or even kosher or halal, in some cases), someone with an eating disorder might use veganism as an excuse to not eat. And it’s okay to be wary of that. But that doesn’t mean the solution is to oppose veganism altogether.
You can recover from an eating disorder as a vegan
I want you to know that if you’re someone who is vegan and also has an eating disorder, you can get better. I did. And you don’t need to ditch veganism to do it, either. You will need to learn to get honest with yourself about your motivations though, regardless.
If you find that you’re often using your veganism as an excuse to not eat, then that’s something you’re going to need to address in recovery. In recovery, you will have to do a lot of things that are out of your comfort zone, but ultimately they will bring you greater quality of life. And you can learn how to eat a vegan diet more healthfully—another win.
But veganism is not what heals you
I couldn’t address this subject without talking about this point. There are vegans on the internet who will say that going vegan can heal you from your eating disorder. I just flat-out disagree. I remember when I was just beginning my vegan recovery journey. And back then, hearing these sorts of messages filled me with a sense of hope and encouragement. But it was a false hope, and I don’t want to perpetuate that to anyone.
These people will tell you that they used to feel guilty about eating as a manifestation of the cognitive dissonance that comes along with eating meat, essentially. And that once they went vegan, they didn’t feel guilty about eating anymore because they were assured that no one was harmed in the making of their meals. I’m not trying to call them out as liars or say that what they had was not truly an eating disorder, but I don’t think that people can expect going vegan to just automatically fix their wonky attitudes about food and their body.
The resolution of the cognitive dissonance is nice, and for most vegans, was initially a great burden off of them. That being said, I don’t think the majority of eating disorders are about the guilt we feel about using and killing animals. Once you cut out the animal products, you’re still left with the complicated manifestations of unworthiness or lack of control, etc. These things don’t disappear overnight, regardless of your vegan status.
I repeat, veganism is not an eating disorder
So we see, veganism and an eating disorder are two entirely different things, with a vague overlap in dietary changes. Going vegan didn’t cause your eating disorder, and most vegans don’t have an eating disorder, just as most people don’t. But if you’re someone who has an eating disorder, I do recommend you seek help. There are many clinics out there that can offer services to lead you through your recovery journey without advising you to “just stop being vegan”.
In the future, perhaps I will go more in-depth on a vegan recovery from an eating disorder. But for today, just know that it is possible, that you’re not alone, and that you can beat this! Thank you so much for reading my thoughts. If you’re interested in more vegan content, consider subscribing to the blog to get email updates. If you have something to say about the subject or want me to go more in depth in the future, leave a comment letting me know. And as always, have an awesome day!