Drunkorexia: Parents, Knowing What It Is Could Save Your Child’s Life by Joy Stephenson-Laws JD [inactive]

The term drunkorexia pretty much means exactly what it sounds like: being drunk and anorexic at the same time. The idea is to limit the number of calories from food, so that you can drink more without gaining weight. Some students also report doing it, since drinking on an empty stomach gets them drunk faster and for less money.

• A study by the University of Missouri found that 30 percent of female college students admitted that within the last year they had restricted food in order to consume greater quantities of alcohol.

• The same study found that men are more likely to engage in similar behavior in order to save money for purchasing alcohol.

• About 67 percent of students who restrict calories prior to alcoholic beverage consumption do so to prevent weight gain, while 21 percent did so to facilitate alcohol intoxication.

If your child shares that he or she is concerned they may be suffering from drunkorexia, here are some ways to help them:

• Encourage them to seek support from their university health services. Many universities are now recognizing drunkorexia.

• Help your child learn more about healthy living habits that can help undo the health damage drunkorexia can cause.

Read more about drunkorexia via pHLabs.

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