“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 diagnosable eating disorder while others find that it cannot be solely classified as either an eating disorder or a substance abuse disorder but has elements of both.

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 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 percent of participants reported engaging in the behavior.

Drunkorexia poses significant health risks, including nutritional deficiencies, a weakened immune system, an increased risk of alcohol poisoning, organ damage, exacerbated mental health issues, and more.

Here are two underlying motivations behind drunkorexia.

A fear of gaining weight from alcohol calories........

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