The Dangers of “Drunkorexia”

Shocking and hard-hitting figures have recently emerged that show at least 40% of people aged between 18 and 34 have admitted to eating less during the day in order to binge drink later on. The reason they do this is due to a belief that they are ‘saving’ calories by not eating as much during the day. These individuals then assume they can indulge in alcohol using the remaining calories; calories that should have been used to fuel the body with food. This phenomenon has recently been dubbed ‘drunkorexia’.

Media

Experts have come forward to highlight this culture of excessive drinking and believe an increasing pressure to be thin is to blame for this current situation. Youngsters are constantly subjected to seeing stick-thin models as well as their favourite celebrities showing off their ‘fabulousâ’ bodies in tabloids, on television, on billboards, etc. Practically everywhere you turn, there is an unrealistic body image plastered in front of you. With the likes of TV shows such as Geordie Shore and The Only Way is Essex, where binge drinking is heavily promoted and the participants of these shows are kept toned and ‘healthy’ (by their personal trainers), it is no wonder the younger generations are attempting to mirror these actions.

Dangerous Obsession

Elaine Hindal, the Chief Executive of Drinkaware, a charity that educates on the effects of alcohol, has said, “While it’s good to be aware of the calories you’re drinking, what can seem like a harmless tactic can turn into a dangerous obsession.”

Missing out on meals can lead to vomiting, disorientation, or passing out. Doing this frequently can put you at risk of even more harmful diseases such as liver or heart disease as well as some forms of cancer.

Elaine continued, “If you are watching your weight, it is best to cut back on alcohol rather than food. Alcohol is full of empty calories, which have no nutritional value.”

Shocking Revelations

This news came to light after a national health report in 2016 highlighted the fact that many people who chose to eat healthier meals are doing so for appearance’s sake, rather than their actual health. Forty-one per cent of eighteen to twenty-four-year-olds confessed to eating healthily purely to look good, displaying a worrying lack of concern for their overall wellbeing.

Three-thousand men and women of all ages were tested on their knowledge of a wide variety of topics, including exercise, eating and drinking. It has become apparent that there is a definite lack of knowledge across all ages, with the data highlighting that most of these people are ignorant when it comes to the health benefits of various food and drink. Many are still of the opinion that alcohol in moderation is good for health.

The majority of those involved could not answer simple health-related questions and, shockingly, could not tell which was a healthier option when given the choice of two foods to pick from. One in ten thought that a popular chocolate bar, Curly Wurly, was healthier than a banana because the sugar content in the fruit was slightly higher.

Obesity

The report shows that one in five children starting primary school are classed as either overweight or obese – 22.6% of boys and 21.2% of girls are being placed in these categories. It is becoming almost a normality to see young children quite overweight. Many protective parents will cover this up by using the term ‘puppy fat’, but is it really? Is there really any justification for the next generation growing up battling obesity? As these unfortunate youngsters are growing up with this around them, it is going to become the norm that they will eat and drink too much.

Excessive food consumption causes obesity, but many people are unaware that excessive alcohol consumption also leads to obesity and illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

Source:

1. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3729415/The-rise-drunkorexia-Nearly-half-young-people-skip-meals-save-calories-binge-drink-later.html