Exploring the motives and mental health correlates of intentional food restriction prior to alcohol use in university students

J Health Psychol. 2015 Jun;20(6):875-86. doi: 10.1177/1359105315573436.

Abstract

This study explored the prevalence of and motivations behind 'drunkorexia' – restricting food intake prior to drinking alcohol. For both male and female university students (N = 3409), intentionally changing eating behaviour prior to drinking alcohol was common practice (46%). Analyses performed on a targeted sample of women (n = 226) revealed that food restriction prior to alcohol use was associated with greater symptomology than eating more food. Those who restrict eating prior to drinking to avoid weight gain scored higher on measures of disordered eating, whereas those who restrict to get intoxicated faster scored higher on measures of alcohol abuse.

Keywords: drinking behaviour; drunkorexia; eating behaviour; eating disorders; females; health behaviour; risk factors; students.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology*
  • Alcoholism / psychology*
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Risk Factors
  • Students / psychology*
  • Universities
  • Young Adult