# Are there any fat vegetarians? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 17, 2005, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561 "2005-11-17T22:36:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/21 "2005-11-18T00:29:52Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Well, I’ve met a lot of people who _don’t eat meat_ that are pretty chubby. > > Actual vegetarians - that is, those that follow a specific diet all tend to be pretty smallish. Huh? If a person doesn’t eat meat or fish, then the person is an “actual vegetarian.” The specific diet they follow is “not eating meat or fish.” While some vegetarians may also follow strict dietary regimens in addition to not eating meat, those who don’t follow such regimens are still vegetarians. Your distinction makes no sense. As for the OP’s question. I’m a vegetarian, and have been for about 13 years (i’m 36 years old). For most of my life—pre and post vegetarian—i was slim and fit, mainly due to a decent diet, and a good exercise regime. Over the past few years, while i’ve been in grad school, my level of exercise has dropped off dramatically, and i spend much of my time on the couch or in front of the computer reading or writing. During that time, i’ve added about 30 pounds, going from a trim 165lbs to 195, on a 6 foot, medium frame. I don’t really look fat with clothes on, but i can feel that i’m carrying more weight than i want to carry, and when the clothes come off there’s a noticeable gut and spare tire. My next task is to get back into a regular exercise routine, and i want to be back to around 170 pounds or so in the next year, if possible. My meals themselves are generally quite healthy. We cook a lot at home, using good quality ingredients. I do love cheese, although i don’t eat an inordinate amount of it. Where i fall down is my love for candy and chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/22 "2005-11-18T02:44:13Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Huh? > > If a person doesn’t eat meat or fish, then the person is an “actual vegetarian.” The specific diet they follow is “not eating meat or fish.” While some vegetarians may also follow strict dietary regimens in addition to not eating meat, those who don’t follow such regimens are still vegetarians. Your distinction makes no sense. You misunderstood what I meant. If you decide to follow a “vegetarian” diet, where you do research to make sure you’re getting sufficient protein, carbs, etc from your diet, you’ll tend to be thin. If you quit eating meat, and eat cheese and bread instead, maybe not so much. Obviously, if someone doesn’t eat meat/fish/chicken, etc, they’re a vegetarian. However, they’re not necessarily following a “vegetarian” diet. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/23 "2005-11-18T05:53:27Z")
For many years, I **was** a fat vegetarian. Like **mhendo** , I started gaining weight when my lifestyle changed and I started getting less exercise. Then I got pregnant, and I really ballooned. When I decided to lose weight, I was able to do so by cutting out junk food and paying close attention to the nutritional value of the foods I was eating and, more importantly, by exercising daily. Once I was down to a healthy weight, I was able to maintain that weight even though I became less vigilant about my diet, although I’m confident that if I were to quit exercising and paying some attention to what I eat, I’d be able to gain all the weight back without ever touching meat. In my experience, the difference between being fat or thin isn’t whether or not you’re eating meat, it’s whether you’re eating junk and whether you’re physically active. As for the idea that it is difficult to get enough protein on a vegetarian diet without overeating, that’s just plain wrong unless your diet consists mainly of junk food. Our bodies really don’t need the amount of protein that the typical meat-eating Western diet contains, and it’s not all that hard to get 50 or 60 grams of protein a day from non-meat sources. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/24 "2005-11-18T06:20:58Z")
I have known more than a few! Nearly every female lawyer in my old law firm was a vegetarian. The fat ones I’ve met are always the ones who don’t eat meat solely for ethical reasons. They order salad for lunch, and then a big dessert, and always had candy in their offices. I have never personally met a vegetarian who ate healthfully. The thin ones exercised a lot. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/25 "2005-11-18T06:41:08Z")
I’ve known more than a few. None that were obese, but definitely on the chubby to beyond chubby side. Meat is not the only thing with fat in it. And an all (or heavily) refined carbohydrate diet will probably not keep you skinny. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/26 "2005-11-18T06:41:39Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > You misunderstood what I meant. > > If you decide to follow a “vegetarian” diet, where you do research to make sure you’re getting sufficient protein, carbs, etc from your diet, you’ll tend to be thin. > > If you quit eating meat, and eat cheese and bread instead, maybe not so much. The two options hich you present as mutually exclusive are not. It’s perfectly possible to get “sufficient protein, carbs, etc.” while also eating considerable amounts of cheese and bread. > [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Obviously, if someone doesn’t eat meat/fish/chicken, etc, they’re a vegetarian. However, they’re not necessarily following a “vegetarian” diet. Yes they are, because a vegetarian diet is, by definition, a diet without meat. There are healthy and unhealthy vegetarian diets, just like there are healthy and unhealthy omnivorous diets. Your distinction still makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![tiltypig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@tiltypig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiltypig)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/27 "2005-11-18T09:14:00Z")
Yes. You might find this link interesting: > **[Check Out This Accidentally Vegan Food and Snacks List | PETA](https://www.peta.org/living/food/accidentally-vegan/)** > > Check out PETA's accidentally vegan food list. Most grocery stores have these options including bread, chips, and beverages. According to that guide, a completely vegan meal might consist of Dum Dums, Fritos, Nabisco Double Delight Mint’n Creme Oreos, Aunt Jemima Syrup Dunk’ers Cinnamon French Toast sticks, and a tall, frosty glass of Nesquick chocolate milk. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/28 "2005-11-18T09:23:46Z")
> [@tiltypig](#): > > …and a tall, frosty glass of Nesquick chocolate **milk**. Vegan? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/29 "2005-11-18T12:13:15Z")
Several years ago, I saw a very heavy black comedian on the “Tonight” show with Jay Leno. Leno was joshing the guy about his weight, particularly since the guy had made a point of saying he’d been a vegetarian for several years. LEno asked how a vegetarian could be so heavy. The comedian was very good-natured and jocular about it. His honest answer, “Well, there’s no meat in doughnuts, Jay. And there’s no meat in ice cream.” A vegan would answer that ice cream is definitely an animal product, and doughnuts MIGHT be made with animal products. Regardless, it remains true that one CAN eat a very unhealthy diet and still be a vegetarian, according to the strict definition of the word. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/30 "2005-11-18T12:54:03Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > And every vegan I’ve every met has been very trim. (And pale, for some reason). That’s because they’re malnourished. Vegetarians can still get the nutrition they need, but vegans usually cannot. ---
**Author:** ![metj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@metj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metj)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/31 "2005-11-18T12:57:33Z")
I’m a fat vegetarian. I am 5’5" and weigh 213.5 lbs. I’ve been a vegetarian for 2 years. I did actually lose about 10 lbs. when I stopped eating meat, but have been the same weight since then. I don’t drink, but like another poster said, pizza, doughnuts, and Coke are all vegetarian. If I were vegan I would probably not be fat, but I have no interest in that. I’ve started watching what I eat recently and see that I don’t think it was my caloric intake that was the problem, just the fact that I ate cheese and butter like no other. So now I eat lots of beans. And I lost a pound last week. And hopefully a year from now I will not be a fat vegetarian. (I’ll let you all know 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/32 "2005-11-18T13:30:53Z")
Every single vegetarian I know is significantly overweight - and I know a lot of 'em, I’m a hippie chick. Over 20 people, all 30 or more pounds overweight. The four vegans I know are rail thin, but are also raw foodists, so their choice of foods is \*seriously \*limited. And they’re really annoying at pot-lucks. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/33 "2005-11-18T13:37:28Z")
If the vegetarian has a nightly snack of a cup of cocoa and a cup of yoghurt (around 400 calories) and the vegan has a nightly snack of a cup of wine and a cup of mixed nuts (around 1400 calories) who do you think will weigh more? ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/34 "2005-11-18T13:40:46Z")
I know a fat vegetarian. He loves his pizza, and he loves his French fries. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/35 "2005-11-18T13:51:34Z")
I was a vegetarian for 17 years and had the same issues as anyone else with fluctuating weight. There are plenty of high fat, high carb foods out there that don’t include meat or meat byproducts. When I ate a healthy vegetarian diet and exercised I became thin. This is no different than what happens to me now that I am eating meat again. If I load up on pasta, pizza and beer and stop exercising, I get fat. Just as I did in my vegetarian days. I knew some obese vegetarians in my day, I might add. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/36 "2005-11-18T13:52:07Z")
I’m getting a little chubby. (And I’m a vegetarian, or it wouldn’t be relevant.) I think I just need to cut back on cheese and exercise a bit more regularly. ---
**Author:** ![eviladam\_part\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@eviladam\_part\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eviladam_part_2)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/37 "2005-11-18T14:46:37Z")
being vegan doesn’t have to make you a skinny weakling if you eat a proper diet, and being vegetarian doesn’t necessarily = healthy diet. [mike mahler](http://www.mikemahler.com/veg.html) is a perfect example. once you start limiting your diet, you have to be that much more careful about what you do eat to maintain proper nutrition. ---
**Author:** ![cmurdough](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@cmurdough](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmurdough)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/38 "2005-11-18T15:26:13Z")
Most of the meat-substitute products have more protein and less fat than real meat. Gardenburger makes several products that are labeled vegan. Taste ranges from cardboard to excellent. My wife and I found their vegan burgers, “Flame Grilled Burgers,” and “Chick’n Grills” very plain. But their original burgers are good, and their “Riblets” are great. We were eating Riblets for two years before I noticed the word “vegan” in tiny print on one side of the box. They also have a new line of wraps that are good, though I don’t know if those are vegan. Morningstar Farms makes the best tasting meatless products, in my wife’s and my opinion. Most have dairy in them, but they have a new burger labeled vegan. We haven’t tried that one yet. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/39 "2005-11-18T15:29:19Z")
My dad is medically obese and has high blood pressure, and has’t eaten meat (aside from the occasional piece of fish) since about 1985. He rarely eats cheese or any milk product (lactose intolerant) and isn’t that crazy about eggs (he eats them as ingredients in other things but not straight up). He does’t drink excessively or eat a lot of junk food. My father is a business owner and has a fairly high-stress life. In his mind, he is “entitled” to a huge serving of whatever. 2 big bowls of pasta, etc. Anything eaten in sufficient volume can make you fat. He’s already had one (thankfully minor) stroke but won’t committ to keeping his weight down. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561/40 "2005-11-18T16:03:40Z")
Since we’ve gotten a factual answer that yes, there are fat vegetarians, I’m moving this to IMHO. **fluiddruid** Fat Vegetarian / Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fat-vegetarians/331561.md?page=3)