| What do Brad Pitt, Bob Dylan, Pamela Anderson, | | | | population. The large number of vegetarians in the |
| Martina Navratilova, David Duchovny and Brigitte | | | | UK is accounted for to some extent by health |
| Bardot have in common? All are vegetarians. With | | | | scares relating to mad cow disease. |
| the exception of India, it is estimated that about | | | | The number of vegetarians in Eastern Europe |
| 1% of the global population abstains from meat, | | | | varies between 0.3%% and 1.9% of the |
| poultry, and fish, and that about 0.1% are vegans, | | | | population according Mintel, which is a much lower |
| avoiding all animal products. Yet these figures | | | | percentage compared to Western European |
| translate into about 60 million people worldwide, | | | | countries. Regarding the rest of the world, data is |
| excluding India. | | | | incomplete and estimates vary between 0.2% |
| A large 2008 study of vegetarians [Vegetarianism | | | | and 4% vegetarians as a percentage of |
| in America, published by Vegetarian Times] shows | | | | population, excluding India and Israel. |
| that 3.2 percent of U.S. adults (7.3 million people) | | | | Israel, at 8.5%, has the world's second largest |
| follow a vegetarian-based diet. About 0.5 percent | | | | percent of vegetarians, according to the Israeli |
| (1 million) of those are vegans, who consume no | | | | Ministry of Health, which equates to a remarkable |
| animal products whatsoever. In addition, 10 | | | | 595,000 people in such a small country. India holds |
| percent of U.S. adults (22.8 million people) say | | | | more vegetarians than the rest of the world |
| they follow a semi-vegetarian diet, which includes | | | | combined. A 2006 survey by the Hindu |
| occasional consumption of fish. | | | | newspaper found that 40 percent of the |
| This study showed that of the non-vegetarians | | | | population, or 399 million people, are vegetarians. |
| surveyed 5.2 percent, or 11.9 million people, are | | | | It is estimated that today, more than 400 million |
| "definitely interested" in following a vegetarian diet | | | | Indians are vegetarian, mostly driven by class and |
| in the future. This shows that many people | | | | religious concerns, with the Brahmin class |
| believe a vegetarian diet is a healthy diet. | | | | expected to not eat meat, the Hindu religion |
| The vegetarian study collected data on age, | | | | suggesting vegetarianism and the Jain religion |
| gender and other demographic factors revealing | | | | demanding it. |
| that: | | | | The Jain religion does not believe in harming other |
| - 57.1 percent have followed a vegetarian diet for | | | | forms of life. With over 7 million members, they |
| more than 10 years; 18 percent for 5 to 10 | | | | prohibit consumption of any kind of flesh, eggs, or |
| years; 10.8 percent for 2 to 5 years, 14.1 percent | | | | honey; root vegetables (which might harm soil |
| for less than 2 years. | | | | insects when harvested); and fruit or vegetables |
| - 42.0 percent are age 18 to 34 years old; 40.7 | | | | that have been on the ground, and those that are |
| percent are 35 to 54; and 17.4 percent are aged | | | | more than 3 days old (including pickles and |
| over 55. | | | | preserves). Water must be boiled before drinking, |
| - 59 percent are female and 41 percent are male. | | | | and all liquids must be strained before |
| The 2008 vegetarian study also showed that 53 | | | | consumption, usually with a cloth held over the |
| percent of vegetarians eat a vegetarian diet to | | | | mouth. |
| improve their overall health. Environmental factors | | | | There are different types of vegetarians, |
| were cited by 47 percent, 39 percent cited | | | | depending on dietary restrictions. For example, |
| "natural approaches to wellness", 54 percent cited | | | | some vegetarians exclude all cooked food, others |
| animal welfare; 31 percent cited food-safety | | | | may exclude milk or eggs, and so on. |
| concerns, 25 percent cited weight loss, and 24 | | | | It is interesting to note that when vegetarians are |
| percent weight maintenance. | | | | compared with non-vegetarians in the same |
| In Western Europe the number of vegetarians | | | | demographic (same socio-economic-cultural |
| varies between 2% and 4% of the population | | | | background), research shows that vegetarians are |
| according to to a 2006 Mintel survey (Mintel.com), | | | | less healthy. In fact, peer-reviewed research |
| with the United Kingdom as the exception. The | | | | shows that vegetarians have a higher incidence of |
| UK is shown as having the highest per capita | | | | cancer, dementia, obesity, heart disease, stroke, |
| vegetarians in Western Europe at 6% of the | | | | eating disorders, infertility and other ailments. |