The Relationships between Vegetarian Diet, Physical Health, and Subjective Well-Being: A Comparative Study [Relatiile dintre dieta vegetariana, sanatatea fizica si starea de bine subiectiva: studiu comparativ]

The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationships between dietary patterns (omnivorous vs. vegetarian), physical health and subjective well-being. There were 66 respondents, of which 37 omnivores, 14 pesco-vegetarians and 15 vegetarians. They completed a protocol with four standardized questionnaires. Participation was voluntary, based on informed consent. Responses given to the first questionnaire revealed a healthy dietary style among pesco-vegetarians and vegetarians. The frequency of self-reported morbidity was low. Thus, less than a quarter of all respondents reported that they had been diagnosed with a somatic chronic disease (e.g., osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, asthma or hypertension). However, almost three quarters of the cases with a chronic medical condition were represented by the omnivore respondents. Compared with them, both vegetarians and pesco-vegetarians obtained a significantly lower mean for body mass index and higher means on the perception of their healthy dietary habits as well as on satisfaction with their own dietary style and physical health. Furthermore, compared with the omnivores, vegetarians reported a higher mean on the satisfaction with their own lives. There were no significant differences in self-esteem and depression. Some limits of the study and directions for a future investigation are discussed. The results suggest that vegetarian diet may have benefits not only in terms of somatic functioning and physical health, but also in subjective well-being.