A vegetarian diet may be good for you, but researchers say those adopting the meatless lifestyle are at an increased risk of developing an eating disorder.

In a study of 2,516 teens and young adults between the ages of 15 and 23 years old, the researchers said people who are or were vegetarians experienced the benefits associated with eating fruits and vegetables, and many in the vegetarian, or former vegetarian, group were less likely to be overweight and obese.

But the researchers said adolescent and young adult vegetarians were more likely to report binge eating and loss of control when eating compared to their carnivorous counterparts. Likewise, former vegetarians were more likely than never-vegetarians to engage in risky eating behavior, the researchers said.

The researchers were from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, the University of Minnesota and the University of Texas, Austin. Their findings were published in the April edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

The researchers said their conclusions showed health professionals should ask if their patients are, or ever were, vegetarians when assessing risk for eating disorders.