The comorbidity of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, are emerging as dangerous behavioral patterns. Drunkorexia—alcohol abuse and anorexia—is a growing concern, particularly among college-aged women and young adults. The combination of alcoholism and disordered eating habits merges the health risks associated with both disorders, exacerbating the dangerous consequences.
What is Drunkorexia?
Drunkorexia is a term that refers to the combination of alcohol abuse and eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa. While drunkorexia is not an official medical term or diagnosis, it has been a growing concern among young individuals, especially women in college. Young adults are restricting their food intake to compensate for the calories from alcohol to prevent weight gain or intensify the effects of alcohol.
The Connection Between Alcohol Abuse and Eating Disorders
Excessive alcohol consumption and eating disorders often stem from similar underlying issues, such as stress, low self-esteem, and trauma. Individuals who struggle with high levels of anxiety, perfectionism, or body image concerns may be more prone to developing these co-occurring disorders.
The social and cultural pressures of specific body standards and the normalization of heavy alcohol use can increase the risk of drunkorexia. These social circles can encourage excessive drinking habits and conform to these body standards, creating an environment that reinforces drunkorexia.
Media portrayals of binge drinking and weight loss culture often endorse these dangerous behaviors, making it more challenging to break free from the cycle.
Body Image Concerns
One of the primary concerns behind alcohol abuse and anorexia is the desire to maintain or lose weight. Many young people, particularly women, are conscious about their caloric intake and are selective about what they save their calories for.
With drunkorexia, young women are reserving their calories for alcohol consumption. This behavioral pattern is closely linked to issues with body image and the fear of gaining weight from alcohol use. Drunkorexia is often reported by college students and young adults who want to partake in social drinking without worrying about weight gain.
Maximized Alcohol Effects
Another reason individuals are engaging in drunkorexia is to maximize the effects of alcohol. Food prevents alcohol from passing quickly into your small intestine, causing it to absorb slowly. When alcohol takes longer to absorb in the body, the longer it takes for the individual to feel the effects.
Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach speeds up the rate at which the body metabolizes and breaks down the alcohol. Studies show that drinking on an empty stomach expedites the absorption of alcohol into the blood. This process leads to a quicker and more intense “buzz” from alcohol. While for some, this rapid alcohol intoxication is the goal, however, it heightens the risk of alcohol poisoning.
Peer Pressure and Social Influence
Social settings can play a significant role in the development of anorexia and alcohol use disorder (AUD). College culture, in particular, often normalizes and encourages excessive alcohol consumption. Just as alcohol abuse is normalized, young adults, especially women, may feel pressured to uphold specific body standards in college.
This social expectation can cause them to become self-conscious about their body type and image, resulting in substance abuse. Just as stress and societal pressure can lead individuals to use alcohol and drugs to cope, it can also result in drunkorexia.
The influence of social media has a significant impact on body image, mental health, and substance abuse. Research shows that adolescents who grow up with a positive body image are less likely to diet or use substances like alcohol or cigarettes.
The Health Risks of Drunkorexia
Aside from the dangerous and unhealthy nature of alcoholism and eating disorders, drunkorexia can lead to severe mental and physical health risks. Heavy alcohol abuse and anorexia both cause nutritional deficiencies, resulting in a lack of essential micronutrients and overall malnutrition.
Drunkorexia increases the risk of dangerous alcohol-related incidents, including alcohol poisoning. Both alcohol use disorder (AUD) and anorexia nervosa are associated with mental health issues, exacerbating or contributing to the development of mental disorders.
Nutrient Deficiencies
The combination of alcohol abuse and restricted eating habits can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies. Skipping meals or eating meals that lack nutrition deprives the body of essential vitamins and minerals. When heavy alcohol consumption is brought into the equation, it interferes with the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.
Individuals who struggle with alcohol abuse are often deficient in vitamin B6, thiamine, folate, and vitamin A. When your diet lacks essential nutrients, it interferes with several functions in the brain and body, further increasing the health risks of drunkorexia.
Increased Risk of Alcohol Poisoning
Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach with drunkorexia makes individuals more susceptible to alcohol poisoning. Without any food in the stomach to slow down the absorption of alcohol, blood alcohol content (BAC) can spike rapidly. When blood alcohol levels spike faster than the liver can metabolize it, this can lead to unconsciousness, overdose, and even death.
Mental Health Issues
Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, often co-occur with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. The act of restricting food intake, combined with the depressant effects of alcohol, can contribute to low energy and mood swings.
For individuals with existing eating disorders, introducing regular alcohol consumption can worsen symptoms. Over time, drunkorexia can cause a general decline in physical and psychological well-being, further increasing severe health risks. Alcohol abuse and anorexia can lead to heightened anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, attempts, and suicide.
Seeking Help for Drunkorexia: Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Palm Beach, FL
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol abuse and an eating disorder, professional help and treatment are available. Dual-diagnosis treatment programs incorporate psychotherapy, nutritional support, and medical supervision to help individuals with drunkorexia.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in alcohol rehab addresses the underlying thought patterns that are fueling disordered eating and alcohol abuse. Nutritional counseling in dual diagnosis treatment can help restore dietary deficiencies and foster a healthier relationship with food and alcohol.
For dual diagnosis programs and alcohol rehab treatment in South Florida, contact Rock Recovery Center today. We’re here to help you heal and recover from addiction.
References:
- Alcohol Health and Research World, 1996. The Link Between Alcoholism and Eating Disorders.
- WebMD, 2024. What Is “Drunkorexia”?
- Eating Behaviors, 2016. Is “drunkorexia” an eating disorder, substance use disorder, or both?
- Mayo Clinic, 2024. Anorexia nervosa.
- Alcohol Research and Health, 2002. Eating Disorders and Alcohol Use Disorders.
- Healthline, 2019. What Happens When You Drink on an Empty Stomach?
- The BMJ, 2005. Alcohol in the body.
- Journal of American College Health, 2011. Eating Disorder Symptoms Among College Students: Prevalence, Persistence, Correlates, and Treatment-Seeking.
- Mental Health Foundation. Body image in childhood.
- Alcohol Clinical & Experimental Research, 1986. Mechanisms of Vitamin Deficiencies in Alcoholism.
- National Institute of Mental Health, 2024. Eating Disorders: What You Need to Know.
