Veganism & Vegetarism in Eating Disorders with Courtney McLean

In this weeks podcast, Han is joined by Courtney McLean. Courtney is a PhD candidate at Monash University, where they are conducting research to determine the association between veganism, vegetarianism, and eating disorders. Courtney is also developing a validated, novel eating disorder tool for these individuals who present in eating disorder clinical settings engaging in vegan and vegetarian dietary patterns. In this weeks podcast, we discuss:

  • Where Courtney's motivation and insight for beginning her PhD research on the relationship between eating disorders, veganism and vegetarianism.

  • Exploring your intentions as to why you are engaging in a vegan/vegetarian diet, and if this is positive towards your recovery.

  • The importance of respecting someone's values and exploring the impact eating meat may have on their recovery.

  • The quantity and portion sizes required in order to meet nutritional requirements.

  • How current questionnaires and screening tools for eating disorders are not adaptable to vegans and vegetarians.

  • The hope for research surrounding veganism and vegetarianism in eating disorders, including prevalence rates and cognitive traits.

To find out more about Courtney and the research they are conducting, you can find them on Twitter @CourtneyPMcLean.

You can also find the Royal College of Psychiatry Consensus statement on considerations for treating vegan patients with eating disorders here: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/faculties/eating-disorders/vegan-patients-eating-disorders-mar19.pdf?sfvrsn=be96d428_2

Please note that this podcast discusses vegan and vegetarian dietary patterns and eating disorders. This podcast is not aimed to criticise vegan and vegetarian lifestyles but to explore the impact of these diets during eating disorder recovery. Please tread lightly, check in with yourself, and do not replace clinical advice and support with this podcast.

Recent Posts

The Healing Power of Art Therapy in Eating Disorder Recovery

By Hannah Hickinbotham • July 27, 2026
Art Psychotherapist Jessica Mackney shares how art therapy can offer a way into eating disorder recovery when words aren't enough, and what it really looks like beyond "just drawing or painting."

From Legally Detained to Activism: What Hannah Whitfield's Story Teaches Us About Mental Health Inpatient Care

By hannah • July 20, 2026
Hannah Whitfield shares her inpatient psychiatric care, restrictive practice, and eating disorder recovery, and how she turned survival into activism with Legally Detained.

When the System Wasn't Built for You: Trans Identity, AuDHD and Eating Disorders with Eva Echo

By Hannah Hickinbotham • July 13, 2026
Eva Echo shares her experience of eating disorders, trans identity, and AuDHD, and what years of medical gatekeeping in UK healthcare really looks like.

Holding Two Truths: When Eating Disorder Care Both Helps and Harms

By Hannah Hickinbotham • July 6, 2026
When we focus on weight in eating disorder treatment, are we doing more harm than good?

People Pleasing and Finding Commitment in Eating Disorder Recovery

By Hannah Hickinbotham • June 29, 2026
How does people pleasing get in the way of eating disorder recovery? And why commitment, not motivation, might be the thing that carries you through. With insights from psychotherapist and lived experience advocate Sarah Parker.

OSFED and UFED: The Most Common Eating Disorders You've Probably Never Heard Of

By Hannah Hickinbotham • June 22, 2026
OSFED and UFED are the most common eating disorder diagnoses, yet remain widely overlooked. Here's what they are, why that happens, and why it needs to change.
Show More