“Drunkorexia” The Newest Eating Disorder

By Kelly Turner on December 22nd, 2009

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Eating Disorder Center of Denver experienced an increase in eating disorder patients with binge drinking problems, and has since tailored its treatment program to account for the influx. Of all the college-aged females enrolled in the program, 75 percent met the criteria for alcohol abuse.

“Drunkorexia” is not an official medical term, but has been coined by professionals in both the eating disorder and addiction fields.

Although substance abuse is seen through most eating disorders, as destructive behaviors manifest themselves in many ways, “drunkorexia,” which is not a clinical term, but has been coined by eating disorder and addiction professionals, most frequently involves college-aged females who are diagnosed with bulimia and binge drink, often starving all day long to offset the calories consumed through alcohol, or they binge on food and alcohol until they become sick and purge.

It’s not news that college students like to drink, and that eating disorders run rampant on college campuses, so the occurrence of many girls engaging in both behaviors could seem coincidental, but what sets “drunkorexics” apart is they actually use alcohol to engage in the eating disordered behaviors. Independently, both addictions are destructive, but when one is used to enable the other, the combination is harder to break.

In a world consumed with the glamor of Hollywood’s thin and tragic, it’s no wonder that substance abuse and starving are so prevalent among young women. It is important to remember, however, that those plagued with substance addiction and eating disorders don’t do it to be thin and envied.

To those on the outside, it would seem counter intuitive that someone so consumed with not consuming even the smallest amount of calories would have no problem downing large amounts of alcohol, but as with any addiction, it has nothing to do with the substance abused, it is about control, self loathing, escape and easing anxiety. Until those feelings are remedied, patients can’t get over their need to numb and punish themselves.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, contact National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA).