BAD COMBO –
June 2, 2024 – “Drunkorexia,” a portmanteau of the words “drunk” and “anorexia,” refers to a worrisome trend that combines alcohol abuse and disordered eating behaviors. Some researchers believe that it may represent a new eating disorder while others find that it cannot be solely classified as either an eating disorder or a substance abuse disorder.
Research shows that behaviors associated with drunkorexia include fasting, binge drinking and getting drunk. Although not yet an official medical diagnosis, the term highlights a planned pattern of behavior where individuals restrict their food intake, engage in excessive exercise or in purging to “make room” or compensate for the high caloric content of alcohol they will consume.
This behavior is particularly prevalent among college students and young adults. For instance, in a research sample of Australian female university students, over 79.1% of participants reported engaging in Drunkorexia behavior.
