(Draft 1) Vegetarianism at MU: Prevailing Rational for Various Types of Vegetarians

This topic submitted by Emily Brown, Bill Dasso, Zach Joyce, Allison Plavecski, Brittany Ranyak ( browneb1@muohio.edu, dassowj@muohio.edu, joycezj@muohio.edu, plavecad@muohio.edu, ranyakbs@muohio.ed ) on 10/10/03 .

Natural Systems 1 Syllabus---Western Program---Miami University

Vegetarianism at Miami University: the Prevailing Rational for Various Types of Vegetarians

Question

Why do students at Miami University decide to become vegetarian? How many students at Miami consider themselves vegetarian, and which type of vegetarianism is most widespread among the population of Miami? Is there a prevailing reason that students of the same type of vegetarianism choose their respective diet?

Introduction

The intent of this study is to decipher the particular reasons a Miami student has chosen to become a vegetarian. Their decision may have been influenced by any of the following: environmental concerns, ethical concerns, health concerns, or religious beliefs (Hartung). Traditionally, the vegetarian lifestyle has been seen as a healthy alternative. Vegetarians have a lower risk of obesity, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancers when compared with nonvegetarians (The American Heart Association website). Several types of vegetarianism exist. For the purposes of this study, the more obscure diets, such as fruitarian (those who eat only raw fruit, grains, and nuts) and sproutarian (those who eat mostly sprouted seeds and grains), will not be options on the survey, although a response choice for ÒotherÓ will be included. The types of vegetarians that will be studied are partial vegetarian, pescetarian vegetarian, ovo-lacto vegetarian, and vegan. A partial vegetarian is someone who eats no red or white meat, although they will eat fowl and fish. A pescetarian vegetarian diet excludes meat and fowl, but includes fish. An ovo-lacto vegetarian does not eat meat of any kind, but does eat eggs and dairy products. A vegan eats only plant foods Ð no animal products, no eggs, and no dairy products. By utilizing these types of vegetarianism, we hope to discover the primary reason Miami students have chosen to become vegetarians and ascertain which reason is predominantly associated with each type of vegetarianism.

Hypothesis

We predict that most of the people surveyed will be nonvegetarians. After this majority, the second largest population will be vegetarians of the partial and ovo-lacto categories. Pescetarians will be less dominant with veganism being the population with the fewest numbers. We believe for reasons of health most people will have converted to partial vegetarianism as well as ovo-lacto vegetarianism, although we believe ovo-lacto vegetarians will also have chosen this diet due to an awareness of the environment. The majority of pescetarian vegetarians will have chosen their diet due to environmental reasons. And lastly, the motive behind most vegans will be for reasons of ethical and environmental concern.

Materials and Methods

We plan to surveying sixty people from each of the academic quads Ð those of Central, East, North, South, and Western, as well as the King Library and The Shriver Building. In order to eliminate bias in our data, we included each quad in the areas to be surveyed so that the diversity of Miami campus would be represented. King Library and The Shriver Building attract people of varying ages and interests, allowing for a more diversified sampling. The survey we will use in this study is as follows:

1) Do you consider yourself a vegetarian?

Yes (proceed to next question)
No (end survey)

2) What type of vegetarian would describe your diet best?

Partial Ð excludes red or white meat, but includes fish and fowl
Pescetarian Ð excludes meat and fowl, but includes fish
Ovo-lacto Ð excludes meat of any kind, but includes eggs and dairy products
Vegan Ð excludes meat or any animal products (i.e. no dairy products)
Other Ð fruitarian/sproutarian, or any other undefined vegetarian diet

3) For what reason did you chose to become a vegetarian?

Environmental
Ethical
Health related
Religion
All of the above

The data collected from this survey will be statistically sound. The students are being surveyed on their personal motivation for certain diet choices and therefore they have no understandable reason to be untruthful. Each student surveyed will be asked the same questions to ensure consistency. Our teaching assistant, Rob, agreed that this study is consistent and statistically sound because a varied sampling of students will take place across campus, and each student surveyed will be posed with identical questions. To execute this study, the surveyors will need to be equipped with paper and pen to record results. The program Statview will assist in our calculations. In order to involve the class in our study, we will survey the students in our class and compare those results with the ones retrieved from campus.

Research Timeline

Week Seven Ð turn in proposal, analyze methods for experimentation, create data sheets
Week Eight Ð study for exam, decide who will survey which areas (i.e. quad, library, etc.)
Week Nine Ð turn in lab packets
Week Ten to Thirteen Ð survey the areas described in Methods
Week Fourteen Ð compile and analyze survey data
Week Fifteen Ð statistical analysis using collected data

Works Cited

1. Havala, Hoskins, Wasserman, Mangels. ÒNutrition Education Materials for Vegetarian Children and Adolescents.Ó Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 96:9 (September, 1996).
2. Hartung Laura. ÒGoing Vegetarian for a Day.Ó Journal of American Dietetic Association. 99:9 (September, 1999).
3. Perry Cheryl, McGuire Maureen, Neumark-Sztainer Dianne, Story Mary. ÒCharacteristics of Vegetarian Adolescents in a Multiethnic Urban Population.Ó Journal of Adolescent Health. 29:6 (December, 2001).
4. The Vegetarian Resource Group. ÒPosition of the American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Diets.Ó Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 100:3 (November, 1997).
5. No Author. ÒPosition of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: Vegetarian Diets.Ó Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 103:6 (June, 2000).
6. Gilbody Simon, Kirk Sara, Hill Andrew. ÒVegetarianism in Young Women: Another Means of Weight Control?Ó International Journal of Eating Disorders. 26:1 (July,1999).
7. Worsley Anthony, Skrzypiec Grace. ÒTeenage Vegetarianism: Prevalence, Social and Cognitive Contexts.Ó Appetite. 30:2 (April 1998): 151-170.
8. Kim, Boudreau, Williford, Miller. ÒVegetarianism and Supplement Usage Among College Students.Ó Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 97:9 (September, 1997): A40.
9. Clays, Deriemaeker, Hebbelink. ÒPhysical Fitness and Health Related Parameters in Vegetarian and Omnivorous Students.Ó Nutrition and Food Science. 30:5 (July, 2000).
10. Beardsworth Alan, Bryman Alan. ÒMeat Consumption and Vegetarianism Among Young Adults in the UK: An Empirical Study.Ó British Food Journal. 101:4 (July 1999): 289-300.
11. Rozin Paul, Bauer Rebecca, Catanese Dana. ÒFood and Life, Pleasure and Worry, Among American College Students: Gender Differences and Regional Similarities.Ó Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 85:1 (July, 2003): 132-141
12. Barr Susan, Chapman Gwen. ÒPerceptions and Practices of Self-Defined Current Vegetarian, Former Vegetarian, and Non-vegetarian Women.Ó Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 102:3 (March, 2002): 354-360.
13. Mercola Joseph. ÒThe Na•ve Vegetarian.Ó 2003. 10/03.
14. Veg Source. ÒPromoting Vegetarianism Worldwide.Ó International Vegetarian Union. 5/03.
15. The Vegetarian Society. ÒHealth and Nutrition.Ó Vegetarian Society. 10/03.
16. People Eating Tasty Animals. 10/03.
17. Focal Media. ÒReligion and Spirituality.Ó The Vegetarian Channel. 10/03.

Synopsis of Works Cited

1. This study analyzes the percent of children and adolescents who are vegetarians. It breaks down the study into gender, age, and diet preference.
2. This study analyzes the willingness of college students to become vegetarians. It recognized the types of vegetarianism, going on to describing reasons for becoming a vegetarian.
3. This examines vegetarian adolescents and the correlation between demographics, personal reasons, weight relation, and behavior factors.
4. This article describes the different categories of vegetarian diets. It also details the health benefits of vegetarian diets. Reasons for having a vegetarian diet: concern for environment, ecology, world hunger issues, economic reasons and religious beliefs.
5. Appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention of certain diseases.
6. This study analyzed the relationship between vegetarianism and weight control in young women. Weight loss patterns and reasons for becoming a vegetarian were recorded. They concluded that vegetarianism was not simply a risk factor in eating disorders.
7. This study measured the correlation between beliefs and food habits. They found that 8 to 37% of women, age 16, and 1 to 12% men, age 16, were vegetarians. The definition of vegetarian was discussed according to the reasons students gave.
8. This was a study of college students in regard to diet. It showed that women were more prone than men to be red-meat abstainers and vegetarians. It also surveyed how many students took supplements.
9. A study of vegetarian students and their health. Tests were done for various blood diseases to check for a correlation between vegetarian and non-vegetarians and health risks.
10. A six-year survey was conducted with undergraduates. It focused on gender and vegetarianism. The survey was an in-depth analysis concerning studentsÕ motivations for their diet choice. The study found women more inclined than men to be vegetarians.
11. A survey performed on college students that indicated their eating preferences. It found little relation between regions, race, and social class. Gender was found to have a weighty influence.
12. Surveys were conducted on past vegetarians as well as current. They analyzed how eating habits and perception of meat changed over time. This study concluded that ideas about diet do change over time.
13. This site goes into detail about the problems with vegetarianism. It discusses vegetarianism as child abuse. Then facts about health issues are brought up.
14. This website gives information on vegetarianism. It provides nutritional facts as well as information describing how vegetarianism affects the environment.
15. This site gives tips on how to give your body the nutrition it needs without meat. It also provides recipes and articles on the health benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle.
16. Includes several articles describing the problems with vegetarian diets. There are articles discussing how children do not get the nutrition they need.
17. This site explains the spiritual implications of being vegetarian. It outlines how this is a positive experience and gives tips for staying healthy.