Vegetarians are usually confident that they have made a right lifestyle choice by abstaining from the consumption of any meat products. However, a study from the Medical University of Graz, Austria say otherwise: vegetarians are less healthy and have a lower quality of life than meat consumers, as they have higher chances of suffering from different illnesses. 

The new research reveals that vegetarians visit their doctors more often than the people who eat meat, because they are more prone to health-related problems due to their meat-free diets. In fact, non-meat eaters have double the risk of allergies and a 50 percent increased risk of heart attacks and cancer. Also, they are significantly more likely to experience mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

"Our study has shown that Austrian adults who consume a vegetarian diet are less healthy (in terms of cancer, allergies, and mental health disorders), have a lower quality of life, and also require more medical treatment," the researchers claim. "Therefore, a continued strong public health program for Austria is required in order to reduce the health risk due to nutritional factors."

However, they also have discovered that vegetarians tend to be healthier in some other ways -- they tend to be more active and have lower BMIs (Body Mass Index), consume less alcohol, and are less likely to smoke.

Their latest research certainly contradicts previous claims suggesting red meat is linked to a range of health problems, including bowel cancer. Therefore, the researchers say that more studies are needed to confirm their findings.