"Drunkorexia," a combination of alcohol abuse and disordered eating, is a concerning trend particularly among college students, driven by societal pressures for thinness and emotional stress. This behavior, which includes fasting and binge drinking, poses significant health risks and is not yet an official medical diagnosis. Addressing drunkorexia requires professional help, self-awareness, and mindfulness to foster a healthier relationship with food and alcohol.
A study by the University of South Australia reveals that around 1 in 3 female university students engage in drunkorexic behaviors, which is when a person engages in disordered eating patterns to offset the effects of consuming a lot of alcohol. This behavior is extremely dangerous and could lead to many health issues, including hypoglycemia, liver cirrhosis, nutritional deficits, brain and heart damage, memory lapses, blackouts, depression, and cognitive deficits. Researchers believe it’s important that parents, educators, and doctors are aware of what causes drunkorexia to develop appropriate ways to help people overcome it.
