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Answers > How Common Is It to Be Vegan and Overweight?

How Common Is It to Be Vegan and Overweight?

April 11, 2011

I am vegan and this girl that just hired on with is vegan too. She is about 100lbs overweight and says has been vegan for 15 years and can't seem to get the weight off. When she says she's vegan, people just kind of scoff at her like she's lying. What would you think if you were one of the scoffers? Would you think she was lying or that she just really liked her breads and rice?

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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }

Krister September 4, 2010 at 12:31 am

I just had some vegan apple streusel cheesecake. I’m not fat, but if I ate that sh*t everyday, I could be very easily.

Valerie September 4, 2010 at 12:37 am

I own a Health Food Store and although it is very uncommon, I have met maybe 2 people that were vegan and large. I think people are just shocked because when you think of a vegan it is not someone that is larger.

sandstorms_brother September 4, 2010 at 12:47 am

Perhaps she doesn’t exercise properly. You’d be surprised at how many people forget this simple but critical weapon in weight loss.

Joule September 4, 2010 at 1:29 am

2 possibilities…

Some people say they are vegans but not ness. know that it includes products like milk, cheese, and the you knows, maybe she eats chocolate.

Anyways, yeah bread with sugars, and rice, pasta, and beans are full of carbs, and some recipes still call for oil… and if thats all you eat alot of people go overweight and wonder why, some just stay with the basic greens.

Catkin September 4, 2010 at 1:46 am

It’s not common, but it does happen. She could be overweight because of some metabolic problem or other health concern (although it’s fairly rare to be very overweight due to these problems, it could happen).
If I were to give in every time I get the urge to *really* indulge in some Soy Delicious frozen dessert, I could easilly have a weight problem.
The scoffers are being cruel. If the girl *is* lying, you’ll eventually see this because either she’ll be caught eating something non-vegan or you’ll notice she isn’t honest about other things (ppl don’t usually stop @ one lie if they’re gonna be that way). Being overweight is unhealthy & often hurts emotionally. I’d give her the benefit of the doubt for now.

Michael H September 4, 2010 at 2:15 am

I know a vegan who is very overweight, so its perfectly possible.

I say support her, people who have weight problems and get criticised for it often retreat into comfort food.

Jingizu September 4, 2010 at 3:06 am

Its not common but not uncommon either. My best friend’s a strict vegan and since I’ve known her, her weight’s fluxuated with a tendency for chubbiness and even really overweight at times. A mutual friend of ours is a vegen as well and she’s always been overweight.
Liking your potatoes and pastas and eating too many carbs is just as bad for you as too much fat. You can also easily eat too large portions even eating vegan. Lots of tofu and soy products can also contribute to weight gain. People just expect a vegan or even vegetarian to be lighter and thinner. But its a myth that only meat/fat causes weight gain and health problems. Especially carbs can do the same…

jenbeckpdx September 4, 2010 at 3:10 am

I am vegan and 100 pounds overweight. I’ve been vegetarian for 9 years.

bel September 4, 2010 at 3:32 am

I’m strictly vegan and really need to watch my weight. I could easily be large if I stopped rationing myself. I’m 5’5″ female and 140lb so I’m just about right, but only because I deny myself bigger meals and vegan friendly puddings and snacks!

VeggieTart September 4, 2010 at 4:13 am

I’m vegan and overweight. I know a few people who are veg and overweight as well.

I’ve always tended toward chubbiness and I’m severely out of shape. But I’ve never heard ofa morbidly obese vegan, although I guess it is possible.

J.R. September 4, 2010 at 4:17 am

Last I heard, only about 2% of vegans were obese (more than 100 lbs. over ideal weight), and 5% of vegetarians were obese. So, It does happen, but it’s rare.

Even though vegetarian and vegan diets are typically lower in calories, you can still eat too much and gain weight.

Shelly P September 4, 2010 at 4:24 am

FIrst off, I have been vegetarian for 17 years. I’ve always been fat, and was about 90 lbs over what I wanted to weigh, as of last Sept (a year ago). I started severe dieting/exercise last Sept (o6) and I have since lost almost 80 lbs. I’m still a teeny bit pudgy but am now struggling with an eating disorder. I had to go to such severe lengths because the normal “diet and exercise” thing that EVERYONE told me simply didn’t work. I tried it! I tried everything. I didn’t start losing weight until I cut my calories to 500 a day and exercised 2 hours a day. This is nott good.. Anyway, I feel your friend’s pain DEEPLY.. I know ALOT of my weight was my fault. I ate alot of junk food, etc.. but I still think something isn’t right with my metabolism. No one would ever believe me! That’s why I’ve had to do what I’ve had to do..

BUT I know people can be so jugmental!! There ARE medical conditions that can cause someone to be overweight no matter what they eat!! I don’t know for sure if it’s my case, but I seem unable to eat normally without gaining, can eat almost normally (being very careful!!) while maintaining, but have to eat pretty much nothing but fruit and juice to lose. It’s hard.. I’m going next month to the doctors to talk about my metabolism. I’m a little scared, because if I am honest with the doctor, I WILL be diagnosed with bulemia, at this point.

So.. support her.. encourage her to talk to doctors, and don’t judge her by her weight.. there can be multiple reasons someone is overweight!!

denise c September 4, 2010 at 4:51 am

some people start out fat and lose the weight very easy, and some have already started out no eating meat, so it all depends on that person really

Solo September 4, 2010 at 5:17 am

Potato Chips? / Cheesecake is my downfall. LoL

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