“The researchers suggest that avoiding meat may be a “behavioral marker” indicating people already with poor mental health.”
One of our sons is a college athlete, he is so intense/controlled with his diet and exercise that it seems on the edge of a disorder. He works out hours a day, seven days a week-has for years. He is absolutely rigid about his food. Uses a kitchen scale to portion out every single thing he eats, won’t consume any sugars or dairy. Recently he mentioned that plant sourced protein is superior to meat and I discovered plant based “meat”balls in the fridge.
I’m concerned about his rigid control-the above statement seems to ring true in our home. He has lost his sense of humor and all joy in life He works like a dog at everything, yet seems to enjoy nothing but the control he has over himself :(.
He ran into a high school teammate who commented on how much weight our son had lost-he was never even close to overweight. Not sure how to help him.
There’s a disorder called orthorexia where one obsesses over every part of their diet, ingredients, sourcing, every aspect has to be perfect (in their mind).
As far as the chicken and egg argument on the thread, which comes first, veganism or depression, I definitely feel some mentally ill people become vegan to draw attention to themselves, but I can see it working the other way as well.
Sorry to read that...yes some sort of mental issue...prayers that he will snap out of that way of thinking...