Drunkorexia: The Newest Eating and Drinking Disorder Plaguing College Campuses
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The University of Maryland’s Gold Code preaches “pregame with protein”, a phrase many University of Maryland students like to joke about before venturing out into a night of drinking.
The reason why protein, and food in general, is so strongly recommended, is because having it in your system prior to consuming alcohol will “help to slow the absorption of alcohol, which helps control your blood alcohol levels,” according to the University Health Center’s website.
College students ignoring this rule of thumb is not only dangerous, but has also led to a type of disordered eating and drinking pattern called drunkorexia, which is more prevalent than most people realize. Though drunkorexia is not considered an official eating disorder, it is still dangerous and something to watch out for.
The National Eating Disorder Association defines drunkorexia as “a slang term for someone who struggles with an eating disorder and alcohol abuse, or undereats during the day and binge drinks at night.”
Some students are eating less in order to get drunk off of less alcohol. It is no secret that alcohol is filled with calories, so by drinking and eating less, these students are striving to consume fewer calories and thereby gain less weight.
Sounds like a win-win, right? Wrong.
NEDA reviewed a study, which examined college freshmen restricting calories prior to alcohol consumption. This group is at the highest risk for drunkorexia.
In the study, 14% of subjects admitted to restricting calorie intake, 6% reported their behavior was in an effort to avoid weight gain and 10% said they did it to enhance alcohol’s effect.
About 54% of full-time college students drink alcohol, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. About 39% engage in binge-drinking monthly, which classifies as five or more drinks a day for men and four or more for women.
As college culture continues to encourage having flatter stomachs, looking thinner, drinking more and blacking out just to say you blacked out, drunkorexia persists.
When asked about the pressures of college blackout culture, sophomore art history major Mollie Goldman said she tries her best to not engage in drunkorexic behaviors.
“I value my memories with my friends. I’m afraid of getting to the point where I can’t recall what I did or what happened to me,” Goldman said.
Drunkorexia is more common than many think. Most students do not realize it happens around them because they do not even know it is an issue, and most do not realize it happens to them.
“I guess it’s because I won’t have to worry about having too many calories,” junior economics and information science major Allison Siegel said, regarding limiting food intake before drinking. “I can replace my calories for dinner with alcohol. I don’t really think about the consequences. Sometimes I don’t want to eat too much and be bloated when I go out.”
Since most students do not recognize the signs of drunkorexia in themselves, it is imperative for them to look out for signs in their peers and friends. Purposely eating less, avoiding foods rich in protein and complaining about body image prior to a night out are all red flags.
Junior management major Nikky Mittu said he thinks girls are the highest risk for drunkorexia, especially girls who party and go out a lot or are involved in Greek life.
“I feel like they’re much more concerned about what they put in their bodies and they’re more likely to not eat, while also realizing they can get more drunk and have a better time,” Mittu said.
“People purposely will say ‘I wanna get hammered, I’m not eating dinner,’ and they skip right to the pregame,” junior mechanical engineering major Anthony Tavarez said.
Not only is drunkorexia physically harmful, but it is also mentally harmful. It marks the beginning of a slippery slope that could lead to other dangerous eating and drinking disorders.
Drunkorexia puts students at a significantly higher risk for the negative outcomes of drinking alcohol. These include blacking out, having stronger hangovers, violence, getting sick, and sexual assault. Females are more likely to cut back on food before drinking, which can put them at a higher risk for these outcomes, according to Eisenberg Coleman, a scientist at the Fors Marsh Group.
So, before hopping on the orange bus and venturing out to your favorite bar on Route 1 for the night, listen to the Gold Code and pregame with some protein. You'll look great, and your body will thank you in the morning.
