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Mindful Vegetarians
Vegetarian diets are a lifestyle choice made for various reasons, including health. Mindfulness practices may encourage lifestyle choices through cultivating awareness. This study explores the association between mindfulness practice and vegetarianism.
Methods:
Nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Alternative Medicine Supplement (years 2002, 2007, 2012) were pooled for adults aged 18+. For the previous 12-month period, participants were asked if they followed a vegetarian diet for at least 2-weeks, and if they engaged in mindfulness-based practices such as yoga and meditation (n=67,625). Yoga/meditation practice information was combined into the following categories: 1) neither, 2) yoga only, 3) meditation only, 4) both. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, survey year, and complex survey design effects.
Results:
The prevalence of yoga, meditation, and vegetarian diet was 7.5%, 7.6%, and 1.9%, respectively. Compared to participants not engaged in either practice in the past 12-months, individuals practicing only yoga (Odds Ratio=3.37; 95% Confidence Interval=2.54-4.46) or only meditation (5.23; 4.22-6.47) were more likely to be vegetarian. Those practicing both were most likely to have been vegetarian within the past year (10.73; 8.88-12.96).
Conclusion:
There may be many reasons why mindfulness practitioners tend to be vegetarians, as such practice might increase one's compassion towards other beings (animals), a desire to decrease environmental impact, and as a manifestation of self-care. Regardless, given such a strong correlation between diet and mindfulness practices, both factors should be considered in health outcome and mortality lifestyle studies.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and preventionEpidemiology
Learning Objectives:
List the prevalence of yoga, meditation, and vegetarianism in the US population. Compare the odds of being a vegetarian if you practice yoga or meditation for at least 2 weeks. Discuss the dietary pattern of individuals who practice both yoga and meditation.
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been on federally funded grants looking at chronic diseases such as cancer. I am part of an ongoing research group that is currently submitting a federal grant to study mindfulness in cancer patients after treatment. I am particularly interested in MBSR or other mindfulness practices and vegetarians for patients with cancer and cancer survivors.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.