PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Vegetarians almost always go back to eating meat.

That’s the takeaway from new research conducted by the Humane Research Council.

The study, which involved more than 11,000 U.S. adults, claims that only one in five new vegetarians/vegans continues to steer clear of meat.

Eighty-four percent of vegetarians go back to eating meat or other animal products. Forty-three percent said the diet was just too difficult to maintain, and 63 percent said they didn’t like that their diet made them stand out in a crowd.

Furthermore, current vegetarians have an average age of 42, which is a bit older than most people would expect. Of those who are currently vegetarians or vegans, almost 75% are women. Vegetarians/vegans are also slightly more likely to be politically liberal and less likely to practice any religion.

And while more than a third of former vegetarians say they would re-adopt the diet, the HRC says the study reveals the issue of retention. The HRC also says it’s clear that “having multiple reasons for being vegetarian or vegan is associated with being able to maintain the diet for the long-term.”

To see the report, click here.

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