Could intelligence be a factor in one's decision to become vegetarian or vegan? According to a new report in the British Medical Journal IQ exerts a significant effect on this decision for both men and women, whether they are aware or not.
There are a variety of reasons that one may give for making the decision to become a vegetarian or vegan. Many people make the choice for health reasons, siting the strong relationship between heart disease, diabetes, and meat consumption. Others are vegetarians because they believe strongly in animal rights. Some make the choice simply because they don't like the taste.
Either way, results from data gathered on more than 8,000 men and women found that the higher the IQ, the more likely one will choose vegetarianism, or some form of the practice over being a hard-core meat eater.
In order to establish some relationship men and women used IQ scores that were taken at age 10 and compared them to their dietary preference.
Overall only 2.5 percent of the participants were vegan, meaning no animal products whatsoever. Four percent were vegetarian, and 33 percent avoided beef and pork, but ate chicken and fish.
After analysis the researchers found that for every 15 point increase in IQ, the likelihood that the person was vegetarian increased by 38 percent.
The study results followed suit with previous studies that found more intelligent persons had a healthier diet and exercised more.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on December 27, 2006 03:22 PM
