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Are vegetarian and vegan diets associated with eating disorder symptoms? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
The relationship between dietary choices, specifically vegetarian and vegan diets (VVDs), and the presence of eating disorder (ED) symptoms is of interest to the research community. This systematic review aimed to consolidate findings on how VVDs relate to ED symptoms compared to omnivorous diets throughout various life stages.
In accordance with the PRISMA 2020 Guidelines, a thorough search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, up until May 1, 2026. The analysis included 24 cross-sectional studies encompassing 25,223 participants, of whom 67.7% were female, with mean ages ranging from 14.9 to 49.6 years.
The findings revealed no significant difference in ED symptoms between individuals adhering to VVDs and those consuming omnivorous diets. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated at 0.07, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of −0.04 to 0.19. Notably, a high level of heterogeneity was observed. Even when focusing solely on adult populations, the results remained consistent.
The analysis indicated no significant differences in ED symptoms by dietary type (p = 0.524), measurement approach (p = 0.392), or geographic location (p = 0.633). However, within the adult subset, sex emerged as a significant moderator of the pooled estimates (p = 0.028), where studies with a higher female representation reported lower ED symptoms among those following VVDs compared to omnivores.
These results suggest that levels of ED symptoms do not substantially differ between those on vegetarian or vegan diets and their omnivorous counterparts. Future longitudinal studies are essential to explore the impact of dietary quality, adherence duration, motivations for dietary choices, and psychosocial factors on this association. [NPID: Vegetarian, vegan diet, eating disorders (ED)]
Year: 2026
