Vegetarian and weight-loss diets among young adults

Objective: Young adults frequently experiment with vegetarian and weight-lo ss diets. Comparisons of their experiences on these two different diets may help in the development of approaches to improve long-term adherence to we ight-loss regimens. In the current study vegetarian and weight-loss diets w ere compared on how long and how strictly they were followed, and reasons w hy they were initiated and discontinued. Research Methods and Procedures: From 428 college students surveyed, four g roups were delineated: 1) 59 participants had been following a vegetarian d iet but not a weight-loss diet (Vegetarian), 2) 117 participants had tried a weight-loss diet but not a vegetarian diet (Weight Loss), 3) 133 particip ants had followed both a vegetarian and a weight-loss diet (Both), and 4) 1 19 participants had not tried either diet (Neither). Results: Differences were examined by comparing the Vegetarian and Weight-L oss groups as well as by comparing the two diets within the Both group. Dur ation of the vegetarian diet was much greater than the weight-loss diet; mo st participants in the Vegetarian group (62%) remained on their diet for mo re than 1 year, whereas the majority of the Weight-Loss participants (61%) followed their diet for 1 to 3 months. Similar results were found when comp aring the two diets within the Both group. How strictly the two diets were followed, however, did not differ. Analyses revealed that reasons for disco ntinuing a diet varied; participants were more likely to cite boredom as a reason for discontinuing a weight-loss diet than a vegetarian diet (53% vs. 5% between groups and 30% vs. 10% within the Both group). Discussion: The longer duration of the vegetarian diet relative to the weig ht-loss diet warrants further investigation. Results could possibly be appl ied to behavioral weight-loss treatment to improve long-term maintenance.