The practice of intentionally restricting food intake to compensate for calories consumed from alcohol, often referred to as "drunkorexia" or more technically as Food and Alcohol Disturbance (FAD), poses significant health risks, according to personal accounts and emerging research.
FAD involves a disordered eating pattern coupled with binge drinking, where individuals may skip meals or drastically reduce their food intake to "save" calories for alcohol consumption. This behavior can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and cardiovascular issues, as well as the immediate effects of intoxication and hangovers.
Findings suggest that between 14 and 46 percent of women may engage in drunkorexic behaviors. Additionally, a study from University College London found that 68 percent of 23-year-olds reported binge drinking in the past year. Another study indicated that one in three female students regularly cut back on food or increase physical exercise to offset alcohol calories.
Emily Cleary, a former showbiz journalist, detailed her experience with drunkorexia during her late twenties and early thirties. Her role often involved attending numerous events where alcohol was readily available. To maintain a size 8 figure, she imposed a daily calorie limit of around 1,600, which is below the NHS recommendation of 2,000 calories. Faced with a calorie-heavy lifestyle that included significant alcohol consumption, Cleary chose to forgo meals, such as skipping lunch or dinner, to accommodate several glasses of wine.
Cleary described how calorie-counting apps fueled her obsession, emphasizing a simple "calories in versus calories out" equation. She prioritized her allowance for alcohol over substantial meals. Her diet often consisted of light breakfasts like toast or rice cakes, with lunch frequently replaced by exercise. A large bowl of pasta might be consumed late in the afternoon, marking the extent of her solid food intake for the day. This pattern was sustained for at least five days a week to enable her to consume alcohol on weekends.
She noted that her behavior went unnoticed by those around her, who perceived her as a naturally slim woman who enjoyed socializing. However, this self-imposed restriction became an obsession, peaking before her wedding when she aimed to be as slim as possible. She recalls intense rowing sessions to "earn" glasses of wine.
Cleary eventually stopped this behavior three months after her wedding when she became pregnant, leading her to abandon alcohol and calorie counting. Now 47, Cleary expressed regret over how she treated her body, calling it a "toxic delusion" that thinness and over-drinking equate to happiness. She has since retrained as a personal trainer and nutritionist, embracing a healthier lifestyle that prioritizes whole foods and regular exercise. While she still enjoys a drink, she ensures she eats beforehand and no longer counts calories, stating that dinner always wins over a drink. Mental health professionals recognize FAD as a serious condition that requires attention due to its potential long-term health consequences.
