Self-reported Alcohol Misuse Is Associated with Disordered Eating and Binge Eating Disorder in Adults

ABSTRACT

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) can co-occur with mental disorders including feeding and eating disorders (EDs). One hundred-nine adults completed a cross-sectional study examining disordered eating, EDs, and alcohol use. Based on “tendency to abuse alcohol” frequency, drinking was dichotomized into misuse or non-misuse and examined as a predictor of disordered eating and EDs. Sixteen (14.7%) reported alcohol misuse and had significantly higher drive for thinness, anxiety associated with specific foods, frequent dieting, feelings of guilt/shame with eating, and binge eating disorder (BED) than non-misusers. Alcohol misuse may be associated with disordered eating and BED, warranting larger studies and screening efforts.

KEYWORDS:

• Feeding and eating disorders
• binge eating disorder
• alcohol misuse
• alcohol drinking
• disordered eating

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank ASUNM, the Graduate and Professional Student Association, and the Staff Council who assisted in distributing the survey.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data statement

Data described in the manuscript may be requested from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of New Mexico Research Allocations Committee .