Lack of food and higher levels of alcohol are not a healthy combination. There are several negative side effects to a person’s health from drunkorexia. Examples of some of the unwanted side effects include:

Alcohol Provides Little Nutritional Value
If a person skips meals in favor of alcohol, not only are they robbing their body of nutrients, they are also not feeding their body with key nutrients and energy. Also, a person may end up binge drinking at the end of the night because a person may get excessively hungry after skipping a meal or meals.

Impaired Judgement
Consuming too much alcohol can impair judgment and increase the risk of an accident, such as a fall. According to Healthline, an estimated 1,800 college students die each year from alcohol-related accidents.​​​4 In addition to drinking’s deadly effects, an estimated 700,000 students are assaulted by another student who have been drinking.

Overworking the Liver
When a person’s body breaks down alcohol, the liver naturally uses more necessary nutrients. This can create vitamin deficiencies in a person’s body. Examples of these deficiencies include vitamin B, especially thiamine, magnesium, fiber, or protein. ​​​(3)

According to Victoria Osborne, an assistant professor of social work and public health interviewed in ScienceDaily, “Apart from each other, depriving the brain of adequate nutrition and consuming large amounts of alcohol can be dangerous. Together, they can cause short- and long-term cognitive problems including difficulty concentrating, studying, and making decisions.”

Women experience drunkorexia at a higher rate than men. They are also more likely to experience intoxication at faster rates than men. This can put them at greater risk for adverse side effects, including liver damage from excess drinking.