Skipping meals to shed weight put on in drink binges – a disorder dubbed ‘drunkorexia’ – should be classified as a disease, say experts.
A study found one in three female students was regularly cutting back on food and increasing physical exercise to compensate for calories gained from alcohol.
Other studies estimate the prevalence of drunkorexia ranges from 14 to 46 per cent. It is also said to count more women and teenagers among its victims.
Experts said that by cutting back food to make up for drinking alcohol, sufferers were exposing themselves to cardiovascular problems, malnutrition and dehydration.
A team of researchers has analysed every study on the condition among adolescents and young people around the world and concluded that it should be regarded as an eating disorder and as alcohol abuse.
‘Drunkorexia must be recognised as a new disease to be addressed from a multi-disciplinary perspective,’ said lead researcher Elena Andrade Gomez, a professor in public health at La Rioja university in Logrono, Spain.
‘Although the name drunkorexia is not clinically recognised nor has a definition, it describes a new phenomenon that involves the restriction of calorie intake, the practice of excessive physical exercise and the excessive consumption of alcohol.’
She urged public health bodies to look into treatment and prevention methods including using social media to warn the young.
A study found one in three female students was regularly cutting back on food and increasing physical exercise to compensate for calories gained from alcohol
A team of researchers has analysed every study on the condition among adolescents and young people around the world and concluded that it should be regarded as an eating disorder and as alcohol abuse
Skipping meals to shed weight put on in drink binges – a disorder dubbed ‘drunkorexia’ – should be classified as a disease, say experts
The study, published in the journal Nutrients, uncovered several emotional factors, including stress, anxiety and sensation-seeking.
Prof Andrade Gomez said: ‘Future research on drunkorexia should analyse the inter-relationships between its underlying causes, including psychological factors such as low self-esteem and body image.
‘Drunkorexia is a pattern of behaviour that combines diet restrictions, excessive exercise and consumption of large amounts of alcohol, leading to significant physical and mental health risks.
‘Effective treatment for drunkorexia requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both the eating disorder and the substance abuse components.
‘To achieve lasting recovery, this includes integrated care and support for complex alcohol consumption. Since drunkorexia can lead to serious nutritional deficiencies and other health issues, medical and nutritional professionals, along with mental health professionals, are critical components of the treatment.’