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"Drunkorexia" may sound like a made-up word, but the condition is very real and potentially very dangerous.
Involving both disordered eating and drinking behaviors, the issue can cause damage to emotional, physical, and mental health. But with the right kind of care, it's possible to address and recover from drunkorexia.
Drunkorexia is a relatively new term and is not an officially recognized diagnosis, but one that's quickly become more common, leading many people to ask, "What is drunkorexia?"
People who struggle with drunkorexia will limit their food intake and take other measures to "make up" or "save room" for the alcohol-related calories they consume. For many people with drunkorexia, weight loss or weight control is the biggest concern. Sometimes, restriction is also done to maximize the impact of alcohol. Generally, these behaviors are accompanied by a deep-seated fear of gaining weight.1,5
Drunkorexia actually combines two problematic disorders: an eating disorder with substance abuse.
Anorexia nervosa and other restrictive disorders involve a fixation on, and restriction of, caloric intake. With bulimia nervosa, compensatory behaviors are used to "make up" for or “undo” calories consumed. In this case, those calories are more likely to come from binge drinking than from binge eating.2 And like most eating disorders, drunkorexia involves a fear of weight gain and/or a fixation on physical appearance, particularly when it comes to body image.1
It's the central role alcohol plays in drunkorexia that distinguishes it from most other eating disorders. While many people struggle with a co-occurring eating disorder and substance use disorder, with drunkorexia, alcohol consumption and weight control are often the catalyst for disordered eating behaviors, with people planning or modifying their diet or exercise routine around the prioritization of drinking in their daily intake.3
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Drunkorexia is a relatively new medical consideration, and unfortunately, few studies have been done to explore the deeper causes of the issue. Researchers are still unsure whether the condition is best defined as an eating disturbance or a form of alcohol abuse. However, aspects of both are involved in the consideration of the diagnosis.3
What research has been done shows that high stress levels, anxiety, and depression may be risk factors for developing drunkorexia.2 Additional psychological characteristics connected to the condition include:2
More is known about the populations who are more likely to develop drunkorexia than the initial causes of the condition.
Studies done internationally have found anywhere from a 14% to 46% prevalence of the condition in the general population, with a higher risk for:4
Many other studies have connected the issue to college students. In fact, most studies on drunkorexia place college students as the most at-risk population for the condition.1,2,3,4,5 These studies found the following:1,3
One study found that, in general, women were more likely to participate in compensatory behavior around alcohol consumption.4 Still, it's possible for drunkorexia to affect anyone, regardless of age, race, gender, or any other consideration.
Drunkorexia can look many different ways, but some common signs and symptoms include:1,2,3
With drunkorexia, these behaviors are used specifically as ways to make room or compensate for alcohol consumption. But they're often accompanied by other drunkorexia symptoms, including:1
Physical signs of the condition may also include:1
Disordered eating and alcohol use can both negatively impact health and well-being. Combining the two can be even more dangerous.
Alcohol consumption combined with fasting or other caloric restriction can exacerbate the effect of alcohol, potentially leading to:5
The condition also impacts the body in many similar ways to alcohol use disorder, anorexia nervosa, or bulimia nervosa, including:5
Again, the relative newness of drunkorexia as a medical concern means there's no specific recommendation when it comes to treatment. But there are certainly methods that have been shown to help create positive changes in similar thoughts and behaviors.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is not only the leading treatment for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, but has also been used effectively to curb binge drinking behaviors.6,7 This form of psychotherapy involves helping patients identify unhelpful thoughts and redirecting them to help eliminate unhelpful behaviors.
Other standard therapeutic techniques for eating disorders and/or alcohol use disorder include:
Prevention is also important, especially for younger patients and college students. If you or a loved one are regularly drinking more than you mean to or fixating on calories consumed, even if you don't recognize other drunkorexia symptoms, it may be time to seek out help.
With a caring and comprehensive treatment team, it's possible to walk away from the unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that drive drunkorexia and step into a new, healthier, and happier future.
Disclaimer about "overeating": Within Health hesitatingly uses the word "overeating" because it is the term currently associated with this condition in society, however, we believe it inherently overlooks the various psychological aspects of this condition which are often interconnected with internalized diet culture, and a restrictive mindset about food. For the remainder of this piece, we will therefore be putting "overeating" in quotations to recognize that the diagnosis itself pathologizes behavior that is potentially hardwired and adaptive to a restrictive mindset.
Disclaimer about weight loss drugs: Within does not endorse the use of any weight loss drug or behavior and seeks to provide education on the insidious nature of diet culture. We understand the complex nature of disordered eating and eating disorders and strongly encourage anyone engaging in these behaviors to reach out for help as soon as possible. No statement should be taken as healthcare advice. All healthcare decisions should be made with your individual healthcare provider.
