Understanding Drunkorexia
Written by CCTC Staff Writer
Drunkorexia – the term may sound like nothing but a buzzword, but it’s a dangerous and growing trend in today’s world. Defined as a condition where people restrict their food intake to “save” calories for drinking, drunkorexia has significant health risks.
The condition essentially swaps food calories for alcohol calories, leading to intoxication and higher risks of addiction, liver damage, and cardiovascular problems. This blog post aims to provide an overview of drunkorexia, its dangers, and the ways to prevent and treat it.
In this blog we will discuss:
How common drunkorexia is
Who is most at risk to develop drunkorexia
The dangers of drunkorexia
How to treat drunkorexia
How common is drunkorexia?
The National Eating Disorders Association [NEDA] estimates that up to 50% of college students engage in drunkorexia. A study conducted on college freshmen observed that 14% of the participants restricted their calorie intake before consuming alcohol. Out of these, 6% followed the behavior to prevent weight gain, while the remaining 10% did so to increase the impact of alcohol. However, the trend is increasingly affecting adults of all ages as they try to balance healthy eating and alcohol consumption. According to a survey by the University of Houston, 80% of adults who consume alcohol have engaged in drunkorexia at some point in their life. The trend is more common among women, but male college students often fall victim too.
Who is most at risk?
During high school or college, many individuals are introduced to alcohol through parties or older acquaintances. As societal pressures regarding body image and social norms increase during this time, some people turn to disordered eating, purging, or exercise as a way to avoid weight gain. Individuals involved in fraternities or sororities are particularly vulnerable to a condition known as drunkorexia, as alcohol is often more readily available in Greek housing.
Research indicates that those with impulsive personalities have a higher likelihood of engaging in excessive drinking and eating disorder behaviors. The strongest link between alcoholism and eating disorders is among individuals who exhibit purging behaviors. People who have bulimia or anorexia (binge/purge subtype) tend to eat impulsively and then purge to rectify their impulsive actions.
The pattern of impulsive behavior can also occur with drinking. Some people may impulsively drink and then respond by purging. Alternatively, they may engage in binge eating followed by purging, and then turn to drinking in order to escape negative thoughts that arise from the cycle of bingeing and purging or bingeing and restricting.
People who struggle to recognize or deal with their emotions are at a higher risk of resorting to eating disorder behaviors as a means of coping. For instance, some individuals may overeat to avoid negative emotions, while others may undereat or obsessively exercise as a means of avoidance.
Individuals who have difficulty recognizing and managing their emotions may resort to binge drinking as a means of numbing or relaxing. They may initially use disordered eating behaviors as a coping mechanism, and then turn to drinking when such behaviors become ineffective or exacerbate their emotional problems. Alternatively, the opposite may also be true.
The dangers of drunkorexia
The dangers of drunkorexia are numerous, and the most immediate one is the possibility of acute alcohol poisoning. When a person drinks on an empty stomach, the body absorbs alcohol faster, leading to a quicker onset of heightened blood alcohol levels. This can cause unconsciousness, blackouts, and even death. Additionally, depriving the body of essential nutrients can cause severe fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
When disordered eating becomes a regular habit, it can lead to dehydration and malnutrition, not to mention various physical ailments as well as psychological and emotional distress. Such is the case with drunkorexia - characterized by skipping meals combined with excessive drinking, binge-eating episodes, compulsive exercising habits, and body dissatisfaction.
Treating alcoholism and eating disorders
It is challenging to identify and treat both alcohol use disorder and eating disorders simultaneously, despite their frequent co-occurrence. Several treatment centers have reported inadequacy in treating both conditions simultaneously.
Eating disorder screening and monitoring of eating patterns are often overlooked in substance abuse treatment centers. Patients may not be provided with essential nutritional guidance or receive meal support and therapy specifically addressing body image issues.
Individuals receiving treatment for eating disorders may not have the opportunity to address current or past issues with alcohol use. This can lead to difficulties in managing alcohol consumption if disordered eating behaviors resurface.
An increasing number of treatment centers for eating disorders are acknowledging that many individuals with eating disorders also have other mental health conditions. Clinicians who specialize in treating eating disorders are becoming more knowledgeable about how to identify and treat alcohol use disorder alongside an eating disorder.
Therapy and coping skills are essential for treating both eating disorders and alcohol use disorders as they often arise from unresolved emotional regulation, anxiety, or trauma. It is important to address the unique underlying issues of each individual instead of just stopping their harmful behaviors.
You are not alone
In conclusion, drunkorexia is a dangerous condition that affects many people, regardless of age or gender. The best course of action is to address the root causes of the problem – whether it’s an eating disorder, alcoholism, or both. By raising awareness, providing education and resources, and promoting healthy drinking and eating habits, we can prevent and treat drunkorexia and help individuals lead healthier, happier lives.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol and/or an eating disorder, reach out to us to talk about recovery or learn more about the recovery programs we offer.