There’s a current phenomenon on college campuses branded ‘drunkorexia’. ‘Drunkorexia’ – so dubbed because it straddles the line between an alcohol and eating disorder is on the rise. College students are avoiding alcohol-related weight gain and/or getting a quicker buzz by skipping meals, exercising heavily, taking laxatives or diuretics all before a heavy night of binge drinking. Professor Dipali Rinker from the University of Houston found that in a study of 1,200 students up to 80 percent were participants in ‘drunkorexia’. “If I knew that I was going to be drinking at night, then I would not eat beforehand because of the calories,” a female student admitted. These unhealthy behaviors both male and female college students are practicing can cause serious alcohol poisoning and long-term damage to their bodies. Although some nutritionists and dietitians have commented that while it’s good to be aware of the calories you are drinking, it can be a slippery slope into a dangerous obsession if not monitored carefully. ‘Drunkorexia’-type behaviors are linked with excess drinking overall, negative consequences, drinking to cope, and disordered drinking. “This may be very different than a previous generation of drinkers,” Rinker said. Bottom line, ‘drunkorexia’ is more than a buzzword.