What is Drunkorexia?

I don't know if I ever held off eating in order to drink more, but we used to drink 3 beers on an empty stomach in order to get a buzz going before eating. I don't drink anymore though.

A couple of friends of mine are, without a doubt, drunkorexics. Usually don't have breakfast or dinner, but are out drinking most lunchtimes and evenings.

I don't think for them it's a matter of weight though - more a matter of being unable and/or unwilling to bother with food.

That sounds like one of my friends, though when she chooses whether or not to eat it has nothing to do with weight; she wants to know if she can actually get drunk later, not just drink a ton of vodka.

I knew a few people like that in college but mostly I hung out with groups that didn't drink like that. I personally hate the feeling of being drunk and then later sick. I could never do that on a regular basis.

I'm not surpried given the constant call in the media and from health authorities to count calories, count calories, count calories - even those in beverages and that includes alcohol. Something like this phenomenon shows that people do hear and listen to the message, sometimes with negative consequences - like forgoing nutritious food to be able to go out with friends and have a few drinks....these young people are swapping one calorie for another not realizing the negative potential of doing so....and I think much of the reason is that calories are now king and they're being told to count them and watch them and not exceed particular consumption of calories each day.

You do have to wonder though, if "restricting food intake" in order to drink more could just be skipping dessert to have a glass of wine. I know this study is probably referring more to college students that starve themselves in order to get buzzed off less alcohol. But wouldn't the study probably be skewed by someone like myself? If I drink a drink with a meal, I will cut something else out. But if somebody did a survey and asked if I restricted food intake in order to drink more, I would probably answer yes, even though that's not really what they mean. I think.

I have the opposite view -- skip the alcohol in order to be able to eat dessert.

Unfortunately, I know a woman (and she is well beyond her college years) who lives this diet program. She must have 12 light beers a day and this adds up to 1200 calories. She spends the rest of the day eating carrot and celery sticks with a small bag of pretzels. She is killing herself inside out. So sad.

She is obviously an alcoholic. It is not uncommon for people with addictive personalities to exhibit other types of destructive behavior such as anorexia.

Dave Child said:
A couple of friends of mine are, without a doubt, drunkorexics. Usually don't have breakfast or dinner, but are out drinking most lunchtimes and evenings.[...]

Is there physiology different then normal? I can't believe people can be totally disinterested in food, unless they have a hormonal imbalance.

This may help explain the skinny-fat phenomena among young women today. Yuck.

I know many many drunkorexics that have been this way for years. It's become almost standard place in my circle of friends as we go out drinking maybe 3-4 times a week. I don't think we drink that much, maybe 3-4 drinks a night. But those calories add up and weight conscious girls need to find a way to compensate for this social habit.

Ya I know how that is... Actually, I found this site because I was looking for lower fat/calorie alcoholic options.... We used to go out on walks and walk an extra couple miles just so we could have our mikes hard cranberry.. lol, sounds kind of silly now.... I don't neccisarilly go without eating but I do try and keep my calories under control so I have limited my intake for the day so I could comfortably have a couple drinks.

Honestly, I don't get the alchololism in this country among young people. America is not dark, dreary Eastern Europe! Why do young people insist on destroying their health?

after reading this article I now understand what a friend of mine is doing. I just thought she had good control of her calorie intake. She orders appitizers from every bar she goes into but only eats a small portion and that constitutes her meals. She then drinks all afternoon and evening.
She is a drunkaholic!

Fitness_Fanatic said:
Honestly, I don't get the alchololism in this country among young people. America is not dark, dreary Eastern Europe!

You must live in the Southwest...
http://www.stellarlink.org/academic/solarpower/cloudydays/image_view_fullscreen

Note that the darkest three shadings on that map experience more than half of their days as cloudy.

Is it so wrong that I think this is a practice that's not so crazy? I drink to have fun, I don't drink an INSANE amount by anyone's standards (although I do get "buzzed" and sometimes "drunk"), and it's only once per week or so, but in order to maintain my weight and fitness I usually have a light dinner if my plan for the evening includes drinking. This means I drink less to achieve my desired state of silliness (and dancy-ness!), saving me money and calories. It also softens the blow if I decide to have a 2am slice of pizza.

I admire those who are my age (24) and engage in nighttime social activities that don't involve drinking, but that's not me: I like to have a few drinks and dance or go to a dumb theme party or sit around in the apartment and play Cranium with my friends. Drinking is a part of that, and as an athletic girl with an image and a body to maintain sometimes that means cutting back on calories from food.

So while I agree that the woman who eats celery in order to fuel her 12-pack/day drinking habit has a problem, it's not fair to judge me or call me a "drunkorexic". Although I will certainly be calling MYSELF that in a self-deprecating and hilarious manner next weekend :)

I'll admit that I have been known to do this. 12 ounces of light beer is 90 calories (2 WW points) and wine can be 3-4 points. If I know I'm going out that night, I'll count it towards my daily totals. That might mean no raisins for a snack, a smaller lunch, or something like that.

Drunkorexia? Probably not. But am I trading "good" foods for sugar? Yup.

I remember back in college I'd have a salad for lunch instead of a burger because we were going clubbing. I don't really see a problem with this unless 1. you do it all the time. 2. You are in fact a binge drinker. 3. You are an alcoholic. I wasn't any of the three. Do we really need a label for absolutely everything?

sheddingpounds said:
I don't really see a problem with this

I do. It's pathetic.

Replacing food with ethanol. The paragon of unhealthiness?

Here you are, apparently trying to look good (skinny), but you end up looking like crap doing that. Skinny-fat, on that composition of fuel you've chosen. Not to mention being unfit.

Good food cannot be replaced. Protein and fat are essential.

I drink too, of course. But since I work out hard and heavy, I can get away with downing a few, once or twice a week.

I just have to drink a little before I eat, so that the alcohol gets into my blood. But I still eat, just as soon as I begin to feel the effects.

Face it: Eating less "makes" you less. Eating wrong makes you wrong.

Our bodies are always being made. There is always a choice.

Remember this when you make yourself.

I read something about this in The Times recently and it really struck a cord. I suffered from an eating disorder in my twenties - never full blown anorexia or bulimia, but almost - and I really believe that eating disorders and drinking too much go hand in hand. I reckon if you looked at the stats, most heavy drinkers have had issues with food, and most anorexics will have booze problems. It's not really about the food or the alcohol is it? It's to do with control (or lack of it) and low self-esteem.

I do this and so do many of my friends, if were going out drinking i tend to have a low cal jello right before we go out and thats it all day. I do it to save calories, money(as it takes less to get drunk) and i feel heavy and bloated when i eat.. Pretty much ever girl i know does this :) Were all 16 and in college in the uk :) I knwo its not exactly healthy buut its just for like one or two days a week the rest of the time i eat a balanced diet! xXx

Hi all, I am a tv producer working on a story to spread awareness of the issue of people giving up food calories in order to drink. I'd love to talk to anyone who deals with it. If you do, or know of anyone else who does, please contact me at twoeffs@yahoo.com

This sounds like the "Martini Diet"...

concerning the physiology, I have been drinking and hanging out with a woman who has low blood pressure, which I've attributed to her not eat a lot (both in frequency and quantity). now, I'm not a doctor, dietician, etc... It's just a belief that her low blood pressure affects her metabolism. last night we drank 3 bottles of wine, and neither of us felt drunk. I don't restrict food under any circumstances, so I'm going to attribute that to my zinc consumption

I don't see the problem with trading food for alcohol. Honestly, all you are doing is taking in different calories. It's the governments fault either way. They make such a big deal over how people should look and what people should eat. Why not take away all food that is bad for you or cancer causing. Broccoli would be gone since you know there have been studies that show that it causes cancer too. People don't eat for days before going out to drink are just pathetic. But if you switch up what you are eating that one day who cares at least you are still eating. Some people don't eat before they go out drinkin but will eat a few hours before. There are reasons. If I am going out drinking I will eat through out the day but within a few hours of starting to drink I stop. If I don't then it calls for a short and sick night. It's how that person's body is going to take the amount of alcohol that they put in it with or with out food. People need to stop labeling everything and anything they can and worry about the real things that matter these days like the people who don't eat because they are too poor and are living on the streets or the damn war that we shouldn't even be in. Come on now.

I do this but not so extreme as it might sound... the only meal i'd skip is dinner and not to drink more but to keep the amount of calories and carbs i consume before bed. probably not good for me but oh well...

Who Cares? You want to drink, then drink. If you exercise each day you will be fine. that is unless you are already very overweight, then it will slow the process dramatically. And as far as your health is concerned, I've seen alcoholics crush beer their entire life and live till their 80 years old, and I've seen runners drop dead. Its all in the genes. I've also seen people get hit by cars and pass away. The point is, you don't know how long you have in this world. Its all a crap shoot. You can do the best you can to "stay healthy", but Don't blame others when they feel circling their entire lives around it is a waste of time. Moderation to one person is a lot for another. If you do drink a lot, I would suggest getting a blood test now and then to make sure your liver and other organs are "hanging in there". If they are being damaged, then stop. They will usually repair themselves. Eat right, drink water, exercise, and laugh a lot. Taking stuff too seriously will put you in the grave quicker than alcohol.

Does anyone know the medical term for drunkorexia? I can't find it anywhere

Well for all you drunkorexics. If you drink are drinking at home and you drink clear liquor there are not that many calories in that AND if you mix it with lime or other flavored water from like sams or walmart there are not calories in that so you can get hammered and still eat food!!!!!!!

I wondered how long it would take them to come up with a name for this.

There is already anorexia athletica.

I'm sure they'll come up with something for people who skip meals during the day in order to gorge at night when they go out to dinner.

anyone who drinks like that is simply a DRUNK that's it! that's all they'll ever be! and worthless, I would kno

This is called alcoholism people. A sure sign of an alcoholic is someone who will not eat dinner at a restaurant but will drink a large quantity there. In most cases an alcoholic will not even go out to dinner at a place that does not serve drinks. Alcoholics will avoid food because it does not give them the feeling that they need. Calories fill you up regardless of their form, so with enough empty calories in liquid state they will tend to stay away from real food.

If you have a friend who isn't eating dont call it a cute name that isnt in the DSM. Call it what is is and get them help for alcoholism.

I'm so shocked there is a name for this problem....I have been doing this for the last 6 months and lost 50 pounds...my hubby makes jokes about Vodka not being a food group. I drink cause I know I will ignore my hunger therefor I don't eat I just drink. And the pounds fall off. Or I'm just too hung over to eat food every day.

I'm not a college student, I'm a Air Force Veteran of the Gulf war and a mother of three. I know that I probably am an alcoholic...been drinking for the last year since my Suburban got repo'd but the last 6 months I have decide I was a fat pig and didn't deserve to eat all that food, so I turned to my Vodka bottle. It numbs me, I don't get hungry and I find ways to entertain myself here alone all day and all night while the kids do their thing and hubby works two 40 hour a week jobs. It's just me a the three dogs, no friends, waiting for the kids to come home by curfew and hubby to get home at midnight.