College students love to blow off steam at the end of a long school day with an ice-cold beer or a happy hour with friends. In fear of these drinks turning nice hips into muffin tops, students have adopted an unhealthy behavior known as “drunkorexia.”
Although not a medical term, this refers to the act of eating very few calories during the day, or none at all, and drinking at night in order to “save” calories. College students are afraid of gaining weight and the new trend is to skip calories from food and substitute them with calories from alcohol. Some people even purge before indulging in their new liquid diet. This allows the alcohol to inebriate an individual at a faster rate which can cause a number of different health problems.
I understand the need to feel attractive in today’s society. The demands put on the youth of our nation seem higher than ever before. Every day, we encounter ads of Victoria Secret models and watch on
television as women swoon over Channing Tatum’s chiseled abs. Even walking around campus women will scrutinize each other. Let’s face it ladies, a lot of the time we are catty and very quick to pass judgment, especially about other women. You are not to blame, however. We have been programmed to attempt to stand out in the world.
Alcoholic beverage companies do not lessen the pressure of today’s society. In a recent beer commercial, an attractive, thin women walks into a swanky club with two beers. She then finds the most attractive, fit man and sets the beer in front of him. The commercial was an advertisement for a light beer with fewer calories than its predecessor. The message sent to viewers is causing an influx of selfesteem issues. College students soon forget how health affects day to day life.
Many college students care about one thing: being thin. Fun comes second and then nothing else seems to matter. They are willing to make sacrifices whether harmful to their body or not. Health and wellness do not appear to be high on any list of priorities. After all, who wants to have thunder thighs appearing under their neon romper or tight strappy heels cutting into their ankles?
Many women find it hard to break a detrimental cycle. A single compliment on weight loss is enough to keep the cycle afloat. Like any bad habit, the longer it
lasts, the harder it is to get rid of. No one enjoys negativity especially if it criticizes a steadfast lifestyle. So how do women kick the habit?
Sadly, I believe the power to rid ourselves of bad habits such as “drunkorexia” have to come from the source. No one can be convinced to quit. A person has to be empowered to quit and fight for that change to become a new constant. If any student chooses, a solution can be found and a healthy lifestyle waits at the end of the tunnel.
