Is There a Relationship Between Nutrition Preferences and Eating Disorders?

In Part one of this two part blog series, we discussed a number of different dietary preferences which are adopted for a range of reasons and how they can be considered restrictive.

In part two, we’re going to delve a little deeper into the potential relationship between diet/ nutrition preferences and eating disorders, in particular when it comes to a plant-based diet.

Types of Eating Disorders

While there are many types of eating disorders and a more in-depth summary of them can be found on our blog here, this piece primarily focuses on the more heavily restrictive types; anorexia nervosa, and orthorexia nervosa, as these are the most thoroughly researched with regards to their correlation with dietary preference:

Anorexia Nervosa – those suffering from anorexia tend to lose a significant amount of weight in a short period of time. There also tend to be a lot of rules involved, for example, only being ‘allowed’ to eat if you’ve undergone excessive exercise or if you’ve lost a certain amount of weight. Regularly checking the body in a mirror or by feel, and obsessive weighing are also common behaviours. 

Orthorexia Nervosa – Orthorexia is not a term that is currently recognised by the DSM-V, but involves the unhealthy obsession with eating “pure” or “clean” food.

The issue at hand

As established, there are many overarching benefits to a plant-based diet, whether that be from an environmental, health, or ethical perspective. However, controversy lies within those who adopt such diets due to more deep-rooted, psychiatric issues, such as eating disorders – a speculated means of restricting intake in a socially acceptable way. 

Avoiding food because it’s “fattening” or because you’re trying to “be good” evokes more concern than if you are avoiding food because you’re plant-based, and there are no/limited plant-based options available. 

While most who follow plant-based diets are able to live happily and without clinically significant weight and shape concerns, the proportion who do present with eating disorders cannot be ignored.

It goes without saying that not everyone that is plant-based is masking an eating disorder, and not everyone that has an eating disorder is plant-based. That being said, there is certainly a correlation, with a 2022 study by Fuller et al., noted that eating disorder clinicians in the UK are, based on their experience, reporting that more of their patients with anorexia nervosa are wanting to follow a vegan diet.

A cross-sectional study among young women in Poland (Gwioździk et al., 2022) found that those following a low FODMAP diet had a higher rate of orthorexia, and therefore a higher rate of restrictive eating than those following a traditional diet. 

My Master’s dissertation also researched this exact field – a literature review investigating the association between plant-based diets and the development and maintenance of eating disorders. It looked at 10 studies published in or before 2019, from various countries (United States of America, United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Turkey), whose study populations totalled over 17000 participants. 

  1. The aims were to determine whether plant-based diets have a higher association with eating disorders than meat-based diets.
  2. To investigate whether eating disorders manifest as a result of plant-based diets, or whether plant-based diets are resulting behaviours of eating disorders.
  3. To establish how common plant-based diets are in those that are considered “recovered” from their eating disorder.

While many adopt plant-based diets for positive reasons, it’s important to be mindful that in some cases, restrictive eating habits may mask deeper issues like binge eating or orthorexia. Understanding the potential links between dietary choices and what causes binge eating disorder is key to offering the right support. Encouraging flexible habits and tools like healthy meal prep can help maintain balance without triggering disordered behaviours.

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Meghan Foulsham
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Published by Meghan Foulsham

Meghan's fascination with metabolism and the effect of diet on the body covered in her BSc Biochemistry, paired with being a passionate mental health advocate, led her to a Master's degree in Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition. Using this, Meghan works with clients to help them reach their goals in the most sustainable way, without sacrificing or risking their mental health.

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