"Our study does not show that becoming vegetarian leads to developing an eating disorder," says
Neumark-Stzainer, author of the book " 'I'm, Like, SO Fat!': Helping Your Teen Make Healthy Choices About Eating and Exercise in a Weight-Obsessed World." But, she says, "I do think some teenagers choose to adapt a vegetarian diet because it is a socially acceptable way of restricting more foods. So, for some teenagers, becoming vegetarian may be a red flag for a more serious weight-related problem."
If your teenager announces that she or he is now a vegetarian or vegan, the first step,
Neumark-Stzainer says, is to ask why. Look for other concerning behaviors, such as over-exercising, skipping meals, talking a lot about weight or withdrawing from the family. If you see a worrisome pattern, talk to your teen, help her or him to execute a vegetarian diet in a healthy way and, if necessary, seek help. Eating disorders are serious diseases.