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Adolescent vegetarians. A behavioral profile of a school-based population in Minnesota.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Neumark-Sztainer, D; Story, M; Resnick, MD; Blum, RW
Published in: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med
August 1997

OBJECTIVE: To compare a population-based sample of vegetarian and nonvegetarian adolescents regarding food intake patterns, disordered eating, and a range of other non-food-related health-compromising and health-promoting behaviors. DESIGN: A cross-sectional school-based survey. SETTING: Public schools within nonurban areas of Minnesota. PARTICIPANTS: Adolescents (n = 107) aged 12 to 20 years who reported on the Minnesota Adolescent Health Survey that they follow a vegetarian diet and a comparison group of nonvegetarian youth (n = 214) matched for sex, age, and ethnicity. The percentage of self-identified vegetarians in the study population was relatively low (0.6%); most of the vegetarians were female (81%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Food intake patterns, disordered eating (frequent dieting, binge eating, self-induced vomiting, and laxative use), health-compromising behaviors (tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use and suicide attempts), and health-promoting behaviors (seat belt use, physical activity, and brushing teeth regularly). RESULTS: Vegetarian adolescents were twice as likely to consume fruits and vegetables (P < .001), one third as likely to consume sweets (P < .001), and one fourth as likely to eat salty snack foods (P < .001) more than once a day compared with nonvegetarians. Vegetarians were almost twice as likely to report frequent dieting (P < .001), 4 times as likely to report intentional vomiting (P < .001), and 8 times as likely to report laxative use (P < .001) than nonvegetarians. Overall, associations with other health-compromising and health-promoting behaviors were not apparent. CONCLUSIONS: A vegetarian diet may be beneficial because of increased fruit and vegetable consumption and decreased consumption of foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. However, adolescents following a vegetarian diet need to be screened for adequate food intake and potential disordered eating behaviors.

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Published In

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med

DOI

ISSN

1072-4710

Publication Date

August 1997

Volume

151

Issue

8

Start / End Page

833 / 838

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Students
  • Schools
  • Pediatrics
  • Minnesota
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Health Behavior
  • Female
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders
 

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Neumark-Sztainer, D., Story, M., Resnick, M. D., & Blum, R. W. (1997). Adolescent vegetarians. A behavioral profile of a school-based population in Minnesota. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 151(8), 833–838. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1997.02170450083014
Neumark-Sztainer, D., M. Story, M. D. Resnick, and R. W. Blum. “Adolescent vegetarians. A behavioral profile of a school-based population in Minnesota.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 151, no. 8 (August 1997): 833–38. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1997.02170450083014.
Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Adolescent vegetarians. A behavioral profile of a school-based population in Minnesota. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997 Aug;151(8):833–8.
Neumark-Sztainer, D., et al. “Adolescent vegetarians. A behavioral profile of a school-based population in Minnesota.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, vol. 151, no. 8, Aug. 1997, pp. 833–38. Pubmed, doi:10.1001/archpedi.1997.02170450083014.
Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Adolescent vegetarians. A behavioral profile of a school-based population in Minnesota. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997 Aug;151(8):833–838.

Published In

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med

DOI

ISSN

1072-4710

Publication Date

August 1997

Volume

151

Issue

8

Start / End Page

833 / 838

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Students
  • Schools
  • Pediatrics
  • Minnesota
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Health Behavior
  • Female
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders