Skipping meals to lose weight during binge drinking – a condition called ‘drunorexia’ – should be classified as a disease, experts say.
One study found that one in three female students regularly cut back on food and increased exercise to compensate for the calories gained from alcohol.
Other studies estimate that the prevalence of drunkenness ranges from 14 to 46 percent. It is also said that more women and teenagers are among the victims.
Experts said that by cutting back on food to compensate for drinking alcohol, patients were exposing themselves to cardiovascular problems, malnutrition and dehydration.
A team of researchers analyzed every study on the condition among adolescents and young people around the world and concluded that it should be considered an eating disorder and alcohol abuse.
“Drunkorexia should be recognized as a new disease that needs to be addressed from a multidisciplinary perspective,” said lead researcher Elena Andrade Gomez, professor of public health at La Rioja University in Logroño, Spain.
‘Although the name drunkorexia is not clinically recognized and has no definition, it describes a new phenomenon involving the restriction of caloric intake, the practice of excessive exercise and the excessive consumption of alcohol.’
She urged public health authorities to explore treatment and prevention methods, including using social media to warn young people.
A study found that one in three female students regularly cut back on food and increased exercise to compensate for the calories gained from alcohol
A team of researchers analyzed every study on the condition among adolescents and young people around the world and concluded that it should be considered an eating disorder and alcohol abuse.
Skipping meals to lose weight during binge drinking – a condition called ‘drunorexia’ – should be classified as a disease, experts say
The study, published in the journal Nutrients, revealed several emotional factors, including stress, anxiety and sensation seeking.
Prof Andrade Gomez said: ‘Future research into drunkorexia should analyze the interrelationships between the underlying causes, including psychological factors such as low self-esteem and low self-esteem.
‘Drunkorexia is a behavioral pattern that combines dietary restriction, excessive exercise and consumption of large amounts of alcohol, leading to significant physical and mental health risks.
‘Effective treatment of drunkorexia requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both the eating disorder and substance abuse components.
‘Achieving sustainable recovery requires integrated care and support for complex alcohol use. Because drunkorexia can lead to serious nutritional deficiencies and other health problems, medical and nutrition professionals, along with mental health professionals, are crucial components of treatment.”