As if parents of college students didn't have enough to worry about, a trend known as "drunkorexia" is becoming common on campus. In this behavior, young people combine binge drinking with anorexia. Learning about this dangerous behavior may help you explain its consequences to a young person heading back to school.
In binge drinking, men have five or more drinks in a row and women have four or more. Anorexia involves severely restricting calories or binging and purging food. A study published in the Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education found 14 percent of college freshmen at one campus reported eating less or not eating at all before binge drinking.
In combination, alcohol abuse and eating disorders can produce serious effects, including:
- Increased risk for alcoholism
- Stomach irritation and reduced ability of the stomach to absorb nutrients
- Increased risk for sexual assault, alcohol poisoning, memory loss and drunk driving
Source: Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, August 2013
Share with Friend
