Restriction of Calories Prior to Alcohol Consumption among College Freshman

According to the National College Health Assessment, more than three-fourths of college students in the U.S. report consuming alcohol on at least one day in the past month. First-year college students have been identified as one of the groups within the college population that are at high-risk for engaging in binge drinking. In addition to high-risk alcohol consumption, disordered eating is also an issue plaguing college campuses today. The combination of lack of food with heavy alcohol consumption increases a person's risk of alcohol-related consequences, including alcohol poisoning. While several studies have explored the relationship between disordered eating behaviors and alcohol consumption, few have examined the drinking motives among individuals engaging in such eating behaviors, recently dubbed “drunkorexia” by the popular media. Using a sample of 690 freshmen (473 females, 217 males) at a southeastern university, this study examined the restriction of caloric intake among students prior to planned alcohol consumption. First-year students completed an online survey at the end of their spring semester. The survey comprised measures for self-reported alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and caloric intake habits prior to bouts of drinking. The results indicated that 14% of the students reported restricting calories prior to drinking, with 6% doing it to avoid weight gain and 10% to enhance the alcohol effect; no differences were found by gender. Chi square analysis revealed that students who engaged in more frequent drinking and binge drinking episodes were more likely to restrict caloric intake prior to drinking than those engaging in less frequent episodes. Based on the study findings, campus-based strategies to address “drunkorexia” through appropriate alcohol and eating disorder prevention and intervention programs are recommended.

At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to:

• Describe the relationship between alcohol consumption and caloric intake restriction on U.S. college campuses, and potential factors related to this health risk behavior.

• Identify the patterns of this interrelated behavior among freshmen at a southeastern university.

• Describe campus-based strategies for appropriate and effective alcohol and disordered eating prevention and intervention programs to address student drunkorexia.