Alcohol Misuse and Eating Disorders Often Coexist
Alcohol misuse and eating disorders are both serious conditions that can cause lasting harm to physical health, emotional well-being, family life and quality of life. What many people don’t realise is how often these two problems occur together. Research shows that individuals with eating disorders are more likely to struggle with alcohol misuse, while those who misuse alcohol face a higher risk of developing disordered eating behaviours.
This connection is not a coincidence. Both conditions share common risk factors such as difficulties with emotional regulation, trauma, and underlying mental health concerns, often feeding into one another in destructive ways. For example, alcohol may be used to cope with distressing feelings around food or body image, while eating disorder behaviours may be used to control or compensate for the negative impact drinking is having on quality of life.
Recognising the link between alcohol misuse and eating disorders is the first step towards seeking effective, integrated treatment. Addressing both together can help break the cycle and support lasting recovery.
Research on Alcohol and Eating Disorders
Research has found that 35% of alcohol and drug users have eating disorders, compared to only 3% of the general population.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine has adopted a wider definition of addiction to also include “process” addictions, such as food. Both alcohol addiction and eating disorders are compulsive behaviours that stimulate the brain’s reward centres in similar ways:
- Both alcohol misuse and compulsive eating chemically activate the reward systems and block unpleasant emotions;
- This creates an addictive cycle as the stimulus – alcohol and food – give feel-good reactions;
- The sufferer seeks more of this temporary sense of happiness and relief and consumes more alcohol or food;
- This leads the brain’s reward centres to stop functioning in a healthy way;
- Continued misuse of alcohol and food causes increased tolerance, leading to dependency.
Seek Help Today
What are Eating Disorders?
An ‘eating disorder’ is a psychological illness revolving around compulsive eating behaviour. The American Psychiatric Association’s mental health manual (DSM–IV) recognises the following types of eating disorders:
- Anorexia Nervosa – a refusal to maintain normal body weight and an intense fear of becoming fat, despite being severely underweight;
- Bulimia Nervosa: regular episodes of binge eating followed by extreme weight control methods (e.g., vomiting; abuse of laxatives, diet pills, enemas or diuretics; severe dieting or fasting; vigorous exercise);
- Binge Eating Disorder – recurrent episodes of binge eating without purging, which can lead to obesity;
- Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) – an eating disorder that does not specifically meet the criteria above, or it could be a combination of various symptoms of the above eating disorders.
The eating disorders that occur most commonly with alcohol and drug misuse are bulimia nervosa and EDNOS.
What Are the Common Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders?
- Constant dieting;
- Abusing food and/or exercise;
- Feeling distressed if unable to exercise;
- Obsessive weighing and paying careful attention to diet and weight;
- Throwing up or taking laxatives after meals;
- Decreased social interaction: withdrawing from family and friends.
Characteristics of Both Alcohol Addiction and Eating Disorders:
- They are chronic diseases;
- They involve an obsessive preoccupation with a substance (food, alcohol, drugs);
- They have mind-altering effects, leading to physical and psychological dependency;
- They are characterised by similar mental mechanisms: denial, secrecy;
- Sufferers may move from one disorder to another.
An eating disorder is seen as a ‘co-occurring’ condition, as it can be caused by alcohol addiction or can lead to alcoholism. For example, alcohol consumption may cause appetite suppression. In time, this leads to significant weight loss, which can then trigger the onset of an eating disorder. The opposite situation is also possible, whereby a pre-existent, untreated eating disorder may re-emerge once alcohol or drugs are no longer used.
Can you Treat Alcoholism and Eating Disorders Simultaneously?
Eating disorders and alcohol misuse are both long-term illnesses that require intensive treatment. When an eating disorder is diagnosed alongside a drug or alcohol addiction, Castle Craig advises a comprehensive residential rehab treatment programme to maximise the chances of a successful recovery, so that therapy can address the eating disorder and the alcohol or drug addiction simultaneously.
We also recommend a joined-up approach to care, where both disorders are treated on one site and by a team of medical and mental health specialists who are communicating with and updating each other as to the patient’s progress.
Free Confidential Addiction Assessment
Making that first step in seeking help can be very difficult, our team is here to help you.
Alcoholism and Eating Disorders Treatment at Castle Craig
Castle Craig helps treat eating disorders as a co-occurring condition alongside alcohol misuse or drug addiction. We treat a range of eating disorders alongside addiction. We unfortunately can’t treat those with severe anorexia who require an intense level of support.
At Castle Craig, patients suffering from alcoholism and an associated eating disorder are assessed accordingly through specialised diagnostic tests. Our structured rehab treatment programme is personalised to the patient’s individual needs. Both the addiction and the co-existing eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder) are addressed.
Individual therapy and eating disorders therapy, supervision and nutritional counselling, based on a CBT framework, explore the root causes of addictive behaviours patterns and help the patient learn healthy coping skills to manage unsettling emotions without misusing alcohol, drugs or food.
Medical supervision involves the prescription of food supplements, electrolyte monitoring, weight monitoring and electrocardiogram testing where necessary.
Patients work through the 12 steps of Obsessive Eaters Anonymous (OEA) and gradually develop healthy habits and behavioural changes.
Regular, nutritious meals are provided. Patients learn the principles of healthy eating and have three meals and three nutritious snacks daily.
Download Our Brochure
Get Help for Alcohol and Eating Disorders
Castle Craig Rehab has over 35 years of experience in the treatment of addiction and co-occurring disorders like eating disorders. We also treat prescription drug misuse, such as addiction to over-the-counter diet pills, laxatives, emetics and diuretics, and provide medically monitored detoxification.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcoholism and drug addiction and also shows signs of an eating disorder, contact us and one of our admission staff will answer any questions you might have.
