The colloquial term ‘drunkorexia’ is probably unfamiliar with some
people as it is not technically a medical diagnostic term, but it is one
that may become better known in time as the problem threatens to
escalate.
Although the term is relatively new, this increasingly serious
condition is not. It seems more of us are inflicting a self-imposed
torturous starvation and/ or are putting ourselves through overly
excessive exercising, with experts warning a higher number of people are
now skipping meals, depriving themselves of food in order to ‘save’ the
calories for an episode of binge drinking later in the day.
It is believed that more and more women
in particularly are drastically reducing their food intake so they can
drink more wine. Dieticians coined the term ‘drunkorexia’ due to the
fact they believe that their work with clients demonstrates an
association between binge drinking and eating disorders.
Psychologists claim it is the labels on the drinks that list the
alcohol’s high number of calories is partly to blame for encouraging
those with eating disorders to ditch food for drink. The disorder
therefore means those who ‘save’ on food calories are drinking alcohol
on an empty stomach, something ill-advised as it massively amplifies the
effects of alcohol.
Adrienne Key, consultant psychiatrist at the Priory Hospital, says
that although the advertising of alcoholic calorie content is in the
interest of most people, it can have dire consequences for those
suffering with an eating disorder.
Speaking on Monday, she said: “Displaying calorie content on
alcoholic drinks has been counterproductive for a small but significant
proportion of society. When I started in the profession 20 years ago you
would hardly hear of calorie swapping like this. But now we come about
it fairly regularly. People who have not eaten will say, “I’m saving
myself for a glass of wine. People are more likely now to use this as a
method to control dietary intake in a disordered way.”
Despite the fact that alcohol itself doesn’t contain any fat in it,
it is loaded with ‘empty’ calories with no nutritional value to the
human body. Add mixers like Coca-Cola into the equation and it is easy
to see how the calories start accumulating, and fast.
Whilst it is responsible to be conscious about the amount of alcohol calories
going into your body – and possibly using an alcohol unit calculator to
do this – it is not responsible to miss out on healthy, nutritional
meals, not providing your body with energy, vitamins and minerals it so
sorely requires.
Charity workers say the issue of ‘drunkorexia’ could also be
afflicting men, despite the fact that it is women who are more likely to
speak about the problem.
Susan Ringwood, from eating disorders charity Beat said that
‘drunkorexia’ is also likely to affect those that have not been
previously diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Speaking to The Times, she commented: “We do see these cases,
particularly when people are binge drinking at the weekend. It is not
necessarily an eating disorder, but it is a disordered approach towards
eating and people can easily find themselves trapped by it. If you are
trying to live off one or two hundred calories a day, people find it
easier to consume small amount of alcohol and briefly feel better than
eat food.”
Medical Specialists® Pharmacy are now able to actually help those with alcohol addiction through the alcohol dependency treatment Selincro
(nalmefene). This medication is suited for people who are heavy
drinkers, but don’t require immediate detoxification, and whom have a
high level of alcohol consumption 2 weeks after the first consultation
with the doctor. This is defined as more than 60g of alcohol per day for
men or more than 40g of alcohol per day for women. The great news for
those who are prescribed it is that there is no risk of becoming
dependent on Selincro.
Selincro’s active ingredient nalmefene works by latching onto certain
opioid receptors in the brain that are responsible for addictive
behaviour, altering their activity, thereby decreasing the urge to
continue drinking.
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