Diets and selected lifestyle practices of self-defined adult vegetarians from a population-based sample suggest they are more 'health conscious'
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few population-based studies of vegetarians have been published. Thus we compared self-reported vegetarians to non-vegetarians in a representative sample of British Columbia (BC) adults, weighted to reflect the BC population.</p&g...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2005-04-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/2/1/4 |
| _version_ | 1811260460903694336 |
|---|---|
| author | Barr Susan I Bedford Jennifer L |
| author_facet | Barr Susan I Bedford Jennifer L |
| author_sort | Barr Susan I |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few population-based studies of vegetarians have been published. Thus we compared self-reported vegetarians to non-vegetarians in a representative sample of British Columbia (BC) adults, weighted to reflect the BC population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Questionnaires, 24-hr recalls and anthropometric measures were completed during in-person interviews with 1817 community-dwelling residents, 19–84 years, recruited using a population-based health registry. Vegetarian status was self-defined. ANOVA with age as a covariate was used to analyze continuous variables, and chi-square was used for categorical variables. Supplement intakes were compared using the Mann-Whitney test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Approximately 6% (n = 106) stated that they were vegetarian, and most did not adhere rigidly to a flesh-free diet. Vegetarians were more likely female (71% vs. 49%), single, of low-income status, and tended to be younger. Female vegetarians had lower BMI than non-vegetarians (23.1 ± 0.7 (mean ± SE) vs. 25.7 ± 0.2 kg/m<sup>2</sup>), and also had lower waist circumference (75.0 ± 1.5 vs. 79.8 ± 0.5 cm). Male vegetarians and non-vegetarians had similar BMI (25.9 ± 0.8 vs. 26.7 ± 0.2 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) and waist circumference (92.5 ± 2.3 vs. 91.7 ± 0.4 cm). Female vegetarians were more physically active (69% vs. 42% active ≥4/wk) while male vegetarians were more likely to use nutritive supplements (71% vs. 51%). Energy intakes were similar, but vegetarians reported higher % energy as carbohydrate (56% vs. 50%), and lower % protein (men only; 13% vs. 17%) or % fat (women only; 27% vs. 33%). Vegetarians had higher fiber, magnesium and potassium intakes. For several other nutrients, differences by vegetarian status differed by gender. The prevalence of inadequate magnesium intake (% below Estimated Average Requirement) was lower in vegetarians than non-vegetarians (15% vs. 34%). Female vegetarians also had a lower prevalence of inadequate thiamin, folate, vitamin B<sub>6 </sub>and C intakes. Vegetarians were more likely than non-vegetarians to consider various health conditions and food/nutrition concerns when choosing foods.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this population-based study, evidence was obtained to indicate that vegetarians appear more 'health conscious' than non-vegetarians, although specific differences were not always consistent by gender. Additional population-based studies are required to determine if the observed gender differences exist in other populations.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:46:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e90728b4e70947d0945a7c280683b97e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:46:40Z |
| publishDate | 2005-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj.art-e90728b4e70947d0945a7c280683b97e2022-12-22T03:20:35ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682005-04-0121410.1186/1479-5868-2-4Diets and selected lifestyle practices of self-defined adult vegetarians from a population-based sample suggest they are more 'health conscious'Barr Susan IBedford Jennifer L<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few population-based studies of vegetarians have been published. Thus we compared self-reported vegetarians to non-vegetarians in a representative sample of British Columbia (BC) adults, weighted to reflect the BC population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Questionnaires, 24-hr recalls and anthropometric measures were completed during in-person interviews with 1817 community-dwelling residents, 19–84 years, recruited using a population-based health registry. Vegetarian status was self-defined. ANOVA with age as a covariate was used to analyze continuous variables, and chi-square was used for categorical variables. Supplement intakes were compared using the Mann-Whitney test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Approximately 6% (n = 106) stated that they were vegetarian, and most did not adhere rigidly to a flesh-free diet. Vegetarians were more likely female (71% vs. 49%), single, of low-income status, and tended to be younger. Female vegetarians had lower BMI than non-vegetarians (23.1 ± 0.7 (mean ± SE) vs. 25.7 ± 0.2 kg/m<sup>2</sup>), and also had lower waist circumference (75.0 ± 1.5 vs. 79.8 ± 0.5 cm). Male vegetarians and non-vegetarians had similar BMI (25.9 ± 0.8 vs. 26.7 ± 0.2 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) and waist circumference (92.5 ± 2.3 vs. 91.7 ± 0.4 cm). Female vegetarians were more physically active (69% vs. 42% active ≥4/wk) while male vegetarians were more likely to use nutritive supplements (71% vs. 51%). Energy intakes were similar, but vegetarians reported higher % energy as carbohydrate (56% vs. 50%), and lower % protein (men only; 13% vs. 17%) or % fat (women only; 27% vs. 33%). Vegetarians had higher fiber, magnesium and potassium intakes. For several other nutrients, differences by vegetarian status differed by gender. The prevalence of inadequate magnesium intake (% below Estimated Average Requirement) was lower in vegetarians than non-vegetarians (15% vs. 34%). Female vegetarians also had a lower prevalence of inadequate thiamin, folate, vitamin B<sub>6 </sub>and C intakes. Vegetarians were more likely than non-vegetarians to consider various health conditions and food/nutrition concerns when choosing foods.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this population-based study, evidence was obtained to indicate that vegetarians appear more 'health conscious' than non-vegetarians, although specific differences were not always consistent by gender. Additional population-based studies are required to determine if the observed gender differences exist in other populations.</p>http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/2/1/4DietvegetarianHealth behaviorFood habitsHealth attitudes and behaviors. |
| spellingShingle | Barr Susan I Bedford Jennifer L Diets and selected lifestyle practices of self-defined adult vegetarians from a population-based sample suggest they are more 'health conscious' International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Diet vegetarian Health behavior Food habits Health attitudes and behaviors. |
| title | Diets and selected lifestyle practices of self-defined adult vegetarians from a population-based sample suggest they are more 'health conscious' |
| title_full | Diets and selected lifestyle practices of self-defined adult vegetarians from a population-based sample suggest they are more 'health conscious' |
| title_fullStr | Diets and selected lifestyle practices of self-defined adult vegetarians from a population-based sample suggest they are more 'health conscious' |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diets and selected lifestyle practices of self-defined adult vegetarians from a population-based sample suggest they are more 'health conscious' |
| title_short | Diets and selected lifestyle practices of self-defined adult vegetarians from a population-based sample suggest they are more 'health conscious' |
| title_sort | diets and selected lifestyle practices of self defined adult vegetarians from a population based sample suggest they are more health conscious |
| topic | Diet vegetarian Health behavior Food habits Health attitudes and behaviors. |
| url | http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/2/1/4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT barrsusani dietsandselectedlifestylepracticesofselfdefinedadultvegetariansfromapopulationbasedsamplesuggesttheyaremorehealthconscious AT bedfordjenniferl dietsandselectedlifestylepracticesofselfdefinedadultvegetariansfromapopulationbasedsamplesuggesttheyaremorehealthconscious |