by KYW medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough

According to the governments first estimate on how many children are vegetarians, the number stands at more then 355,000 - that's one in about 200 and that isn't all.

Other surveys suggest the rate can be four to six times higher among older teens. The new estimates of young vegetarians comes from a recent Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

According to researchers, it is animal welfare, not necessarily health, that most often causes kids to stop eating meat, although there are some strong health benefits.

But there are problems as well. Eating vegetarian can be a problem because of Vitamin B-12 and D deficiencies, iron, calcium and other important nutriants, that most people get from meat, eggs and dairy.

Vegetarians are often females from high-income families and living on the east or west coasts.

Read Dr. Brian McDonough's Medical Reports