Fab & Fit: Drunkorexia

We proudly introducing HC JMU’s latest series, “Fab & Fit”!  Where contributing writer Courtney Anaya will be showcasing health, nutrition, and fitness articles on the reg to keep you feeling fit and… well, fab! Read on, collegiettes!
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A common trend spreading throughout college campuses is a term coined drunkorexia. Drunkorexia is an eating disorder in which individuals demonstrate anorexic behaviors to save calories for alcohol. The most classic anorexic behavior is self-starvation, so that the body’s calorie intake is limited and in turn can lose weight. This new phenomenon of drunkorexia allows individuals to experience the effects of alcohol at a faster pace and to not gain the added weight from drinking after a meal.

Many students want to hear, “Have you lost weight, because you look great!” That line can easily trigger a person to manifest the idea of drunkorexia and potentially become a culprit of it. Students may see drunkorexia as a mediator for their weight problem and desire for consuming alcohol. Those who practice drunkorexia do not realize the grave dangers to their overall health.

Participants in ‘drunkorexic behavior’ can experience physical and emotional consequences. Drinking on an empty stomach allows alcohol to reach the blood stream at a faster rate. The quickened pace of alcohol can detriment an individual’s life with blackouts, sexual assault, alcohol poisoning, and violence.
College women are especially at risk for practicing drunkorexia. Studies have shown that 1 in 6 college women in the U.S. skip meals to get drunk faster and to make room for alcohol calories. Skipping meals also allows females to save money on food.

When women practice risky drinking, they put themselves at risk for STD’s, drunk driving, alcohol poisoning, and sexual assault. As mentioned before, skipping a meal can drop blood sugar levels, making it more likely that someone will pass out in a short amount of time. Also, when eating is continually restricted for alcohol, malnutrition, heart problems, and cognitive disabilities can arise. If ‘drunkorexic behavior’ perseveres, organ, liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal failure can occur. All of this information can leave a person with two questions: “What is a safe drinking level?” and “How can I lose weight in a healthy way?”

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, women should only have one alcoholic beverage a day to prevent any health problems. This can be easier said than done for many college females on a weekend. Most students will have four or more drinks over a two-hour time period; this is classified as binge drinking. Binge drinking has the same health consequences as drunkorexia. With the confliction of what is ideal and what is reality, a person must make an appropriate decision for her own consumption. Before a night of light or heavy drinking, a student should eat a meal that contains a complex carbohydrate, drink water, and alter alcohol and water throughout the night.

As for losing weight in a healthy manner, a person should consume complex carbohydrates, eat food with higher fiber or protein content, consume little saturated fats, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, and exercise daily. Complex carbohydrates will not break down as fast the white carbs, and they will not directly be converted to glucose (which over time can be converted to fat). Foods high in fiber and protein will make a person feel fuller and prevent snacking. Fruits and vegetables are a great source for a snack and they are low in calories. It is also recommended that a person should exercise everyday for at least thirty minutes.

If you or someone who you know has an eating disorder or alcohol problem, please seek help from someone of trust. JMU Varner House has resources for any type of support! 

Sources:
Daily News. ‘Drunkorexia’ common for college women; one in six skip meals to get drunk faster, save money. Available at: http://www.nydailynews.com. 

The Marquette Tribue. Drunkorexia: No eating, more drinking. Available at: http://www.marquettetribune.org.