Vegan eating disorder recovery

Yes, you can be vegan and have an eating disorder. For most, veganism is a movement to eliminate animal exploitation and suffering. However, some may turn to veganism as a way to reduce calories and food intake which can lead to an eating disorder. An eating disorder dietitian encourages you to reflect on your motivations for choosing a vegan lifestyle and assess if it is related to any disordered eating patterns or thoughts.

Orthorexia is an unhealthy focus on eating in a healthy way in which a person with this condition is fixated on the quality, rather than quantity, of their food to an excessive degree. Behaviors may include tracking macros or any kind of manipulation or elimination to achieve the “perfect diet”.  Check out my article Vegan Orthorexia: Everything you need to Know for more information about this topic.

Veganism is not a form of orthorexia as being vegan comes from a place of compassion for animals and personal responsibility toward sustainability. With that said, veganism can be used as a mask for people with orthorexia to utilize the diet as a tool for enabling their disorder to be socially acceptable. Therefore, veganism is not orthorexia alone, however, the diet can be used to further eliminate food.

Recovery is possible if you are struggling with vegan orthorexia, and an eating disorder dietitian will help you improve your relationship with food and support you in your journey.

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a type of potentially life-threatening eating disorder where people secretly binge by eating large amounts of food with a loss of control over the eating. This is proceeded by purging episodes to get rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way.

There is not a single cause of eating disorders, and they are yet to be fully understood. However, we do know causes of eating disorders could be biological, psychological, sociocultural, and even genetic components to eating disorders that run in families.

Anorexia nervosa is the most common eating disorder characterized by abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight with a distorted perception of one's weight.

AN eating disorder signs include dramatic weight loss, refusal to eat certain foods, such as carbs or fats, and avoiding mealtimes or eating in front of others. An eating disorder dietitian can help you identify these signs if you suspect you might have an eating disorder and help you work through them.

Some risk factors for getting an eating disorder include a family history of mental illness or type 1 diabetes, personality traits such as perfectionism and low self-worth, as well as pressure from family and loved ones to be lower in weight.

Reversing eating disorders will happen with the help of healthcare professionals including eating disorder dietitians, doctors, and therapists, as well as with the support of family/caregivers. This will be a slow process but one that will be extremely rewarding in which you will be able to build your relationship with food, your body and your mind.

The answer is it depends. It is important to reflect deeply on why you have chosen to be on a vegan diet. If you are doing so exclusively for the animals and the environment, then you can fully recover from your eating disorder on a vegan diet. On the other hand, if you are vegan for reasons such as to lose weight, eat fewer calories or change your appearance, then an eating disorder nutritionist would suggest putting veganism on the back burner during your recovery.

There are a few key differences between disordered eating and eating disorders with the primary difference involving the severity and degree of the symptoms. An eating disorder is a complex condition characterized by abnormal eating habits that impair health and an individual’s ability to function. On the other hand, Disordered eating is used to describe a range of irregular eating behaviors that do not necessarily meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder.

Some examples of disordered eating behaviors include but are not limited to:

• Frequent dieting, and anxiety associated with specific foods
• Feelings of guilt and shame associated with eating
• Using exercise, food, restriction, fasting, or purging to “make up for eating junk foods” that were consumed

Breaking disordered eating habits before they lead to an eating disorder is important and can be accomplished by working with a nutritionist for eating disorders.

Unfortunately, in most cases, an eating disorder does not go away by itself. Eating disorders can cause severe functional impairment, meaning that the condition can quickly spiral out of control, harming both your physical and mental health. However, getting help from professional healthcare providers and the appropriate treatment from a nutritionist for eating disorders can help you live a healthy, and fulfilling life.

Eating disorder treatment generally begins with an assessment. If you are unsure about starting treatment the National Eating Disorders Association has a self-screening tool that can help you determine if you could benefit from an intervention.

Furthermore, a professional assessment is needed for accurate diagnosis by your healthcare provider in a treatment facility. Once the diagnosis is given, treatment may include partial, or full hospitalization, inpatient stay, or therapy depending on your case. It is important to know that everyone’s case is different, and the treatment will differ based on that.

Proper treatment for eating disorders also includes nutritional education. An eating disorder dietitian will assist an individual through the process of normalizing a relationship with food and assisting them with their nutritional needs.

If you feel like you could benefit from some extra support in making this lifestyle change, reach out for your FREE 15-minute discovery session with a vegetarian dietitian today.

Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort), making the individual feel a loss of control during the binge, and experiencing shame, distress or guilt afterwards.

Check out my article, Vegan Binge Eating Disorders: Causes & Strategies for Prevention for more info.

Veganism cannot cause binge eating. Eating disorders and binge eating disorders are complex mental health issues and there are many factors involved. Those factors include a person’s relationship with food, personality, genetic and biological factors, and social environment. The causes differ from person to person. A binge-eating dietitian can help you find the root of your binge eating and help you regain your relationship with food.

Some tips to prevent overeating on a plant-based diet include but are not limited to:

• Eat regularly and don't skip meals:

Eating regularly throughout the day will help you gain more control over your eating because it keeps your blood sugar regulated and minimizes urges to binge.

• Ditch the diet mentality

Stop labeling food as “good” or bad” as it puts too much pressure on you. This mindset can increase the feeling of guilt, setting you up for a binging episode.

• Eat enough food

Calorie restriction drives hunger and overeating. If you eat lots of whole foods as a vegan, keep up with your caloric needs!

• Tackle food anxiety

If some foods cause you to overeat more easily, make a list of anxiety-causing foods. Decide if you want to gradually expose these foods to your diet and ask your family and friends to support you through this journey!

A binge-eating dietitian can collaborate to make a plan that works for you and help you fight your binge eating habits.

A  vegan diet can benefit your gut health as it is high in fiber, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, vegetables, buts, seeds, and legumes. However, the high fiber content can also cause bloating, gas, and stomach cramps. It is recommended to consult a vegan dietitian if you are having these symptoms to find the root cause of it.

If your veganism comes with some desire to lose weight, change your appearance, and exude control over your life causing you mental and physical distress, it is recommended to put a pause on veganism at least until you are fully recovered. An eating disorder dietitian can help you if you are struggling with this.