New and troubling phenomenon correlates eating disorders and binge drinking.
This summer, Eating Disorder Center of Denver (EDC-D) experienced an increase in eating disorder patients with binge drinking problems. Of all the college-aged females enrolled in the program, 75 percent met the criteria for alcohol abuse.
Although co-existing substance abuse is seen through all eating disorders, “drunkorexia” most frequently involves college-aged females who are diagnosed with bulimia and binge drink. Often, these patients either starve all day to offset the caloric intake associated with consuming large amounts of alcohol or they binge, on food and/or alcohol, then purge.
“Drunkorexia” is not an official medical term, but it has recently become a phenomenon in both the eating disorder and addiction fields. EDC-D has tailored its treatment program to account for the co-occurrence of eating disorders and binge drinking.
“Over the last 10 years, the prevalence of both eating disorders and binge drinking has increased on college campuses,” said Dr. Tamara Pryor, EDC-D’s clinical director. “With this increase, we have realized the need to offer a dual focus on substance abuse and eating disorders in the treatment of patients.”
Eating Disorder Center of Denver