decline in vegetarianism during medical school-Feb 3, 2007
ACCORDING to just published work of Spencer et al[1], who studied
medical students in the Class of 2003 (n=1,849) at 15 US medical schools
(response rate 80%),……
“…….THE PREVALENCE of vegetarianism was higher among US medical
students than among other US adults, although the prevalence declined
during medical school……”
IF BEING a medical student might be taken as evidence of being of
above average intelligence in the first place, such that IQ confirmation
by testing is unnecessary, it is interesting to note the decline in
vegetarianism during medical school. This could suggest that medical
culture generally is anti rather than pro vegetarianism, since almost by
definition a “student” is moulded in certain directions by a “school”.
MY OWN HUNCH as to the finding[2] is that being in a dietary
minority[vegetarian] makes it difficult to survive, and being generally
more intelligent than the meat eaters, is an asset required to remain
vegetarian[and hence alive] at all.
[1]Spencer EH, Elon LK, Frank E. Personal and professional correlates
of US medical students' vegetarianism.J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Jan;107(1):72-
8.
[2] Catharine R Gale, Ian J Deary, Ingrid Schoon, and G David Batty.
IQ in childhood and vegetarianism in adulthood: 1970 British cohort study
BMJ 2007; 334: 245
Rapid Response:
decline in vegetarianism during medical school-Feb 3, 2007
ACCORDING to just published work of Spencer et al[1], who studied
medical students in the Class of 2003 (n=1,849) at 15 US medical schools
(response rate 80%),……
“…….THE PREVALENCE of vegetarianism was higher among US medical
students than among other US adults, although the prevalence declined
during medical school……”
IF BEING a medical student might be taken as evidence of being of
above average intelligence in the first place, such that IQ confirmation
by testing is unnecessary, it is interesting to note the decline in
vegetarianism during medical school. This could suggest that medical
culture generally is anti rather than pro vegetarianism, since almost by
definition a “student” is moulded in certain directions by a “school”.
MY OWN HUNCH as to the finding[2] is that being in a dietary
minority[vegetarian] makes it difficult to survive, and being generally
more intelligent than the meat eaters, is an asset required to remain
vegetarian[and hence alive] at all.
[1]Spencer EH, Elon LK, Frank E. Personal and professional correlates
of US medical students' vegetarianism.J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Jan;107(1):72-
8.
[2] Catharine R Gale, Ian J Deary, Ingrid Schoon, and G David Batty.
IQ in childhood and vegetarianism in adulthood: 1970 British cohort study
BMJ 2007; 334: 245
Competing interests:
Vegetarian
Competing interests: No competing interests