Is it possible for someone to be a vegetarian and be overweight?

[PresidentBruno]

Is it possible for someone to be a vegetarian and be overweight? Or no? assuming they've been a veg for years?

[kheserthorpe]

Easily. In fact, lean meat is an ideal food to eat when dieting, while lots of pasta, bread and desert is a great path to weight gain.

Vegetarians as a group are overweight less often because they eat less processed food then the overall population, and think more about what they eat then the overall population.

If you pay attention to what you eat and avoid processed food without being a vegetarian, you are far less likely to be overweight then the average person.

[dementor922]

Yes, just because they are not eating meat does not mean they aren't receiving the same things. Since the animals we eat do need the same things we need, for the most part(varies by animal). A lot of the edible plats do in fact produce some fats for there own reasons.

[pickledxtofu]

Yes

There is a right way and a wrong way to include meat into a diet or lifestyle. Likewise, there is a right way and a wrong way to exclude meat.

It is posible for vegetarians to load up on foods with a lot of carbs and little nutritional value. Not to mention, being a vegetarian doesn't mean you can't overeat.

Overeating is what leads to obesity or excess weight--not meat.

[unighted]

Yes, they can over eat good stuff or they can eat pastries that also make you gain weight

[Sekrett]

Well pizza can be vegetarian. Soda? Chocolate. A lot of things have hidden calories you might not even be aware of. Its definitely possible, and there are many overweight vegetarians. For example most Hindus and Buddhists tend to be vegetarians for religious reasons.

To stay healthy you simply have to eat healthy, it wouldn't matter if its vegetarian or not.

[springocelot]

Yes, I know a few. What they have in common is that they eat too much calories than they burn, even if all they're eating is relatively healthy foods. In the case of one of them, a slower metabolism due to the natural-aging process is also another culprit.

[DandelionGirl]

Well duh, vegetarians can eat anything and still gain weight. Just because they eat plants all the time doesn't mean they can't gain weight, you have to eat in portions.

[kmhco]

Of course. Cookies, candy, pasta, many fried foods, etc. are all vegetarian. If you have a diet consisting of large amounts of those things you're likely to be overweight. Especially if you don't exercise.

[freedom2424]

Of course just because they are vegetarians doesn't mean that they do not consume a lot of what makes people overweight. Obviously overconsumption of anything could possibly make you overweight, but sugar is a HUGE culprit. Another component is lack of exercise. I used to think that if one was a vegetarian that automatically meant they couldn't be overweight. I was sadly mistaken lol.

[martyfellow]

Absolutely, I know several of them.

Hey, if you eat too much and don't work out..it doesn't matter if you eat too much meat or too much rice...

[Il_Fonz]

A friend of mine is a vegetarian. She eats a lot of rice, pasta and baked goods which result in her being almost 40 pounds overweight.

[Shpongolia]

Yes it's possible. I know a vegitarian with a beer belly.

[abra_b]

Yes, I've known several. Bread has tons of calories, as do beans and nuts. Etc.

[lauramor]

well yeha if they eat a lot of calories or have a disease

[blackkid2]

It is possible. The main determinant of obesity is exercise level.

[So-Innocent]

Yes I know plenty. Usually carb-atarians who never or rarely exercise.

[Katy16]

Yes, I had a friend who was and I know some other people who are.

[Koldhearted]

I'm sure it you crammed down candy, french fries, and bathed pancakes in syrup you'd get fat.

[Robotic]

Genes also play a role in someone's weight, so yeah I believe so on that basis

[saenda]

haha butter is vegetarian... so I'd assume yes. It usually has more to do with how much you eat as opposed to what you eat

[saenda]

on a side note, my dad would always say as a joke "look at elephants, all they eat are vegetables and they're still huge" haha

[PresidentBruno]

y you no friend me?

[tiredofwaiting]

Yes it is possible some people will never be skinny no matter what they eat

[dommage]

yes, meat is not the only thing that can get you fat

[ZenQueen]

DEFIANTLY. Greasy chips are vegetarian.

[DomCruise]

Samwell Tarly is a vegetarian so there...

[abundantlyrich]

I have met them. They're Sri Lankans.

[doctorwhofan23]

If you consume too many calories it'd be possible.

[Anonymous]

You gain weight from carbs, not protein.

[MyNameIsJonas]

Yes I've met a few.