Drunkorexia Paris: When Alcohol Replaces Food | English-Speaking Eating Disorder Specialist
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever skipped a meal to "save" calories for a night out drinking? Have you felt guilty about drinking alcohol, to the point of restricting your food intake the next day? These behaviors, far more common than you might think, have a name: drunkorexia – or as it's known in French, alcoolorexie.
This term, born from the combination of "drunk" and "anorexia," describes a concerning practice where people replace food calories with alcohol calories in an attempt to control their weight. Primarily affecting young adults between 18 and 30, drunkorexia sits at the dangerous intersection of eating disorders and problematic alcohol use. According to a recent Australian study, up to 67% of respondents admit to restricting their food intake to compensate for alcohol consumption.
Living as an expatriate in Paris can add another layer of complexity to this issue. Navigating French drinking culture, feeling pressure to fit in socially while adapting to a new country, managing anxiety in a foreign environment, and dealing with the stress of cultural adjustment can all contribute to these patterns. When you're already feeling vulnerable and displaced, these behaviors can seem like a solution to impossible demands.
In this article, I'll explore this phenomenon with my signature approach: scientific, compassionate, and resolutely non-judgmental. Because understanding the mechanisms behind drunkorexia is already the first step toward breaking free. And as someone who works extensively with international patients in Paris, I know that professional support in your language makes all the difference.
UNDERSTANDING DRUNKOREXIA: BEYOND THE SURFACE
What Exactly Is Drunkorexia?
Drunkorexia isn't an officially recognized medical diagnosis in the DSM-5, but rather a colloquial term that describes a cluster of compensatory behaviors related to alcohol consumption. These behaviors manifest in several ways:
Characteristic practices include:
Skipping meals before a night out to "save" calories for alcohol
Obsessively counting calories in alcoholic drinks
Engaging in excessive exercise to "earn" the right to drink or compensate afterward
Self-induced vomiting after drinking to eliminate calories
Using laxatives or diuretics after alcohol consumption
Fasting on days following heavy drinking
This practice reveals a cruel paradox: on one side, our society valorizes thinness and places constant pressure on appearance. On the other, it encourages socialization around alcohol, creating an unbearable tension for those trying to respond to both contradictory demands.
This tension can be even more acute for expatriates. When you're navigating a new culture, alcohol often becomes both a social lubricant and a source of anxiety. French culture's relationship with wine and aperitifs, combined with the pressure to maintain an idealized body image (amplified by feeling like an outsider), can create the perfect storm for drunkorexia behaviors.
The Numbers That Concern Us
Recent scientific data highlight the scope of the phenomenon:
Between 39% and 46% of college students report intentionally restricting their eating before consuming alcohol
About 30% of women in their twenties skip meals to drink more
79% of participants in a 2013 American study demonstrated engaging in characteristic drunkorexia behaviors
Up to 50% of people with eating disorders also misuse alcohol or illicit substances
The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reports that 72% of women who admit to inappropriate alcohol use also suffer from an eating disorder
These statistics aren't here to alarm you, but to validate your experience: if you recognize yourself in these behaviors, please know you're not alone, and most importantly, this isn't about lack of willpower.
Who's Affected?
Although drunkorexia was initially observed on American university campuses in 2008, the phenomenon has since spread widely. It particularly affects:
Young adults (18-30 years old), facing double pressure:
Maintaining a physique conforming to thinness standards perpetuated by social media
Fitting in socially in a culture where alcohol is omnipresent
Women primarily, though men are also affected, sometimes with different motivations:
Among women: preoccupation with body image and fear of weight gain
Among men: difficulties with emotional regulation and seeking rapid intoxication
People with a history of eating disorders, who find in alcohol a new terrain for control or disinhibition.
First-year students, particularly vulnerable to the legendary "Freshman 15" (7kg weight gain during first year), combined with social pressure to drink.
Expatriates and international students, who may use alcohol as a coping mechanism for cultural adjustment stress, language barriers, and social isolation, while simultaneously feeling increased pressure to maintain a certain appearance in a new cultural context.
THE EXPATRIATE FACTOR: UNIQUE CHALLENGES FOR INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS
The Perfect Storm of Cultural Adjustment
Living abroad creates specific vulnerabilities that can contribute to drunkorexia:
Language Barriers and Self-Expression When you can't fully express yourself in your second (or third) language, anxiety naturally increases. Many expatriates report using alcohol as a social lubricant to overcome language insecurities. This, combined with feeling self-conscious about your body in a new cultural context, can create the dangerous mix that leads to drunkorexia.
I've worked with numerous international patients who describe feeling "less eloquent" in French, leading them to drink more to feel comfortable in social situations. When this combines with restrictive eating to "compensate" for those calories, the pattern becomes established.
Cultural Confusion Around Food and Drinking French culture has a very specific relationship with both food and alcohol that can be confusing for newcomers:
The emphasis on wine with meals (but also the expectation of "moderation")
Long, multi-course dinners where you're expected to eat AND drink
The aperitif culture that seems mandatory
Different portion sizes and meal timing than you might be used to
The paradox of French cuisine (rich, indulgent) combined with thinness ideals
For many expatriates, this creates an impossible puzzle: "How do I participate in French food culture while maintaining my body?" Drunkorexia can seem like a logical answer.
Social Isolation and Belonging When you're new to a country, building a social network often centers around alcohol consumption. Birthday parties, networking events, after-work drinks, weekend brunches – alcohol is woven through the fabric of social connection in Paris.
The fear of missing out (FOMO) is amplified when you're already feeling isolated in a new country. Many international patients describe feeling they "can't afford" to turn down social invitations, even when those invitations consistently involve alcohol. And if you're simultaneously worried about your weight? The restriction-drinking cycle begins.
The Pressure to "Fit In" Expatriates often describe an intensified pressure to conform to perceived French standards of beauty and behavior. There's a pervasive myth of the "thin French woman who drinks wine and never gains weight" – a myth that's both culturally reductive and physiologically misleading.
This pressure is compounded by feeling like an outsider. When you already stand out because of your accent, your nationality, your appearance, or your cultural references, you might feel extra pressure to "get right" the things you can control – like your body. This can intensify disordered eating and drinking patterns.
Healthcare Navigation Challenges Perhaps most concerning: expatriates facing drunkorexia often struggle to find appropriate help. Language barriers, unfamiliarity with the French healthcare system, fear of judgment, and not knowing where to turn can all prevent people from seeking support until the problem is quite advanced.
Many international patients have told me they initially tried to deal with it alone, thinking "once I adjust to Paris, it'll get better." But without intervention, drunkorexia tends to worsen, not improve.
Why Professional Support in Your Language Matters
Eating disorders involve complex emotions, trauma histories, and deeply personal experiences. Trying to navigate these in a second language adds an unnecessary burden. You deserve to express yourself fully, to be understood completely, and to receive care that accounts for both the clinical aspects AND the cultural context of your experience.
That's why I offer consultations in both English and French. Recovery is hard enough without the added challenge of translating your feelings.
THE HIDDEN MECHANISMS: WHY DRUNKOREXIA TAKES HOLD
The Trap of Contradictory Demands
Our contemporary society places us in a toxic paradox. On one side, it glorifies thinness through retouched images on social media, fitness influencers, and a diet industry generating billions. On the other, it encourages social life centered on alcohol: office parties, after-work drinks, celebrations, dates.
This double bind creates unsustainable psychological tension. How can you be perceived as "fun" and sociable while maintaining a body conforming to thinness standards? For some, drunkorexia appears as a logical solution – though a dangerous one.
Women's magazines bear their share of responsibility in this problem. How many articles have you read about "the lowest-calorie cocktails" or "how to compensate for a night of drinking"? These messages, though seemingly innocuous, contribute to normalizing the idea that you must "earn" the right to drink or "compensate" afterward.
The Underlying Motivations
Scientific research has identified several primary motivations behind drunkorexia:
1. Avoiding Weight Gain The first motivation, found in 67% of affected individuals, is the panic fear of gaining weight. Since alcohol is caloric (7 kcal per gram, almost as much as fat), some people make this calculation: "If I don't eat, I can drink without gaining weight."
This calculation is doubly misleading. First, because it ignores the body's essential nutritional needs. Second, because drinking on an empty stomach drastically increases alcohol absorption and its harmful effects on the organism.
2. Getting Drunk Faster Drinking on an empty stomach speeds up ethanol absorption into the blood, allowing you to reach intoxication faster and with less alcohol. For some, it's a form of self-medication: alcohol temporarily anesthetizes anxiety, discomfort, or ruminations.
This is particularly true for expatriates using alcohol to cope with adjustment stress, homesickness, or social anxiety in a new cultural context.
3. Saving Money Some studies mention the economic aspect: skipping meals saves money to buy alcohol. This motivation, though less frequent, sometimes reveals a nascent dependence. For students and young professionals abroad (often on tight budgets), this economic rationalization can make the behavior seem even more "logical."
4. Social Norms and Peer Pressure Studies show that social norms regarding alcohol consumption AND norms associated with body image have considerable impact on the motivation for these behaviors. Drunkorexia then becomes a desperate attempt to simultaneously respond to the contradictory expectations of one's social group.
For expatriates, this pressure is multiplied. You're not just trying to fit into one peer group – you're navigating multiple cultural expectations simultaneously.
The Role of Social Media and Perfect Body Culture
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or BeReal fuel a cult of the perfect body that exacerbates the phenomenon. Young women, in particular, are bombarded with images of thin bodies while seeing their peers celebrate well-lubricated festive evenings.
This constant exposure to unrealistic standards creates cognitive dissonance. How to reconcile the #fitnessgoals of the morning with the #partylife of the evening? Drunkorexia appears as a false solution to this modern dilemma.
Moreover, certain online communities normalize and even encourage these behaviors, presenting them as "tips" to maintain your figure while having fun. This trivialization makes the problem all the more insidious.
THE REAL DANGERS: WHAT DRUNKOREXIA DOES TO YOUR BODY AND MIND
Immediate Physical Consequences
Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach is never harmless. Here's what happens in your body when you practice drunkorexia:
Accelerated Alcohol Intoxication Ethanol reaches your bloodstream much faster when your stomach is empty. Your blood alcohol level rises at a dangerous speed, drastically increasing risks of alcohol poisoning, loss of consciousness, or even ethylic coma.
This is particularly dangerous for people not used to French drinking patterns, who may underestimate the strength of wine or spirits compared to what they're used to from their home country.
Severe Hypoglycemia Without food intake, your blood sugar drops. Add alcohol, which disrupts glucose release by the liver, and you end up with discomfort, dizziness, vertigo, or even fainting.
Dehydration and Electrolyte Imbalances Alcohol has a powerful diuretic effect. Combined with fasting, this causes severe dehydration and imbalances in sodium, potassium, and magnesium, essential for proper heart and brain function.
Gastrointestinal Disorders Your empty stomach is attacked by alcohol's acidity, causing gastritis, ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux, and chronic abdominal pain.
Long-Term Damage
If drunkorexia becomes a regular habit, consequences worsen considerably:
Severe Nutritional Deficiencies Your body needs vitamins (B, D, iron, calcium) and minerals that alcohol obviously cannot provide. These deficiencies lead to: chronic fatigue, weakened immune system, bone problems (early osteoporosis), concentration and memory troubles.
Liver Damage Your liver, already working to metabolize alcohol, suffers doubly in the absence of protective nutrients. This can lead to hepatic steatosis (fatty liver), alcoholic hepatitis, or even cirrhosis over time.
Neurological Damage Alcohol combined with malnutrition causes progressive and sometimes irreversible brain lesions. Affected areas impact memory, concentration, decision-making, and emotional control. Studies show these behaviors are particularly dangerous for those under 25, whose brains are still developing.
Cardiovascular Problems Repeated electrolyte imbalances and malnutrition weaken your heart, increasing risks of cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension, and premature heart disease.
Hormonal Disruptions In women, drunkorexia disrupts the menstrual cycle, potentially leading to amenorrhea (absence of periods), decreased fertility, and impacted bone health. In men, it affects testosterone production.
Psychological and Social Consequences
Beyond the body, drunkorexia ravages mental health and social life:
Amplification of Anxiety and Depression Contrary to popular belief, alcohol worsens anxiety and depressive symptoms in the medium term, creating a vicious circle where you drink to feel better, which ultimately makes the situation worse.
For expatriates already dealing with adjustment anxiety, this can create a particularly dangerous spiral.
Risks of Cross-Addiction Drunkorexia significantly increases the risk of developing both a clinical eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia) AND an alcohol use disorder (alcoholism). This is called comorbidity or "dual diagnosis."
Increased Risky Behaviors Rapid and severe intoxication increases probabilities of: unprotected or non-consensual sexual behavior, traffic accidents, violence suffered or committed, unperceived dangerous situations.
This is particularly concerning for expatriates who may be in unfamiliar neighborhoods, without a strong support network nearby, or in situations where language barriers might prevent them from seeking help or understanding warnings.
Social Isolation and Shame Paradoxically, these behaviors born from a desire for social integration end up creating isolation. Shame and guilt push people to hide their practices, lie to loved ones, and distance themselves from those who could help.
For expats far from family and old friends, this isolation can be particularly devastating.
Academic and Professional Impact Studies show that people practicing drunkorexia have more difficulties with concentration, absenteeism, and diminished performance, whether in studies or work.
When you're trying to build a career in a new country, or prove yourself in an international academic program, these impacts can be especially damaging.
DECONSTRUCTING THE MYTHS: WHAT DRUNKOREXIA ISN'T
Myth 1: "It's Just a Normal Student Phase"
Reality: No, drunkorexia isn't a harmless rite of passage. Although widespread on campuses, this practice constitutes a serious risk behavior. Normal student "phases" don't systematically endanger your physical and mental health.
Normalizing drunkorexia means trivializing an emerging public health problem. Studies show these behaviors, even sporadic, expose you to high risk of developing alcohol or eating-related disorders long-term.
Myth 2: "It's a Good Strategy to Avoid Weight Gain"
Reality: It's the opposite. Drunkorexia profoundly disturbs your metabolism and paradoxically favors long-term weight gain. Here's why:
When you deprive your body of food then overwhelm it with alcohol, you create metabolic chaos. Your body, in starvation mode, slows its basal metabolism to conserve energy. Alcohol, rich in empty calories (without nutrients), is stored primarily as fat, particularly abdominal.
Moreover, alcohol dysregulates satiety hormones (leptin and ghrelin), which often pushes you to eat compulsively the next day or late in the evening. These eating "binges," fruit of restriction and alcohol's disinhibiting effect, are generally accompanied by guilt, fueling the vicious circle.
Myth 3: "It's a Matter of Willpower or Discipline"
Reality: Absolutely not. Drunkorexia is never about lack of willpower or character weakness. It's an adaptive mechanism in response to contradictory and unsustainable societal pressures.
Telling someone practicing drunkorexia "you just need to stop" amounts to completely ignoring:
Our society's paradoxical injunctions
Neurobiological mechanisms of reward and dependence
Underlying emotional regulation difficulties
The role of anxiety and discomfort
The impact of potential trauma (including migration trauma for expatriates)
These behaviors are intelligent in their attempt to solve an impossible problem. The solution is never more control, but rather understanding and treating root causes.
Myth 4: "Only People with Pre-existing Eating Disorders Are Affected"
Reality: False. While people with ED history are more vulnerable, drunkorexia can affect anyone exposed to social pressures regarding weight and appearance.
Some people first develop drunkorexia behaviors before transitioning to a full eating disorder. Others practice these behaviors sporadically without ever developing a diagnosable ED, but still suffer health consequences.
Drunkorexia sits on a continuum of risk behaviors, and its severity shouldn't be underestimated, regardless of frequency.
Myth 5: "Expatriates Are Just 'Stressed' – It's Not Really an Eating Disorder"
Reality: Migration stress is real and can be a contributing factor, but that doesn't make drunkorexia any less serious. In fact, the combination of eating disorder behaviors with the additional stress of cultural adjustment can make the problem more complex and harder to address.
Dismissing these patterns as "just adjustment issues" prevents people from getting the specialized help they need. Drunkorexia in expatriates deserves the same level of concern and professional intervention as it does in any other population.
TOWARDS A MORE BALANCED APPROACH: HOW TO BREAK FREE
Recognizing the Problem: Warning Signs
How do you know if your behaviors constitute drunkorexia? Here are some questions to ask yourself honestly:
Do you regularly skip meals in anticipation of drinking?
Do you systematically count calories in alcoholic drinks?
Do you feel obligated to exercise before or after drinking to "compensate"?
Have you ever induced vomiting after consuming alcohol out of fear of weight gain?
Are your food choices dictated by your planned or past alcohol consumption?
Do you think throughout the day about your weight and physical appearance?
Do these behaviors generate conflicts with those around you?
Do they impact your health, studies, work, or relationships?
Do you use alcohol to cope with the stress of living abroad?
Do you feel you can't socialize without drinking?
Have you isolated yourself from sober activities or non-drinking friends?
If you answer yes to several of these questions, it's time to seek help. This doesn't make you weak or defective. On the contrary, recognizing the problem is an act of courage and lucidity.
For Expatriates Specifically:
Do you drink more in Paris than you did in your home country?
Do you use alcohol to manage cultural adjustment stress?
Have you noticed your relationship with food changing since moving abroad?
Do you feel pressure to conform to perceived French standards of eating and drinking?
Are language barriers or healthcare confusion preventing you from seeking help?
Building a Peaceful Relationship with Alcohol and Food
Relearning to Nourish Your Body Your body needs nutrients to function, regardless of your alcohol consumption. Eating before drinking isn't an optional choice – it's a physiological necessity. A balanced meal before consuming alcohol:
Slows ethanol absorption
Protects your stomach
Maintains stable blood sugar
Preserves your liver
Reduces risks of dangerous behaviors
Redefining Moderation According to WHO and French Public Health recommendations:
Maximum 2 drinks per day for men
Maximum 1 drink per day for women
At least 2 days per week without alcohol
These guidelines aren't moralizing but protective. They recognize that alcohol is a toxic substance for the body, even in "small" quantities.
Deconstructing Food Guilt Calories aren't your enemies. They're units of energy your body absolutely needs to live, think, repair itself, and regulate emotions. No food is "bad" or "forbidden." This binary, moralizing vision of eating fuels eating disorders.
Working on Body Image The real question isn't "how to stay thin while drinking?" but "why do I need my body to respond to standards that are neither realistic nor healthy?" This work on body image and self-esteem is fundamental and deserves professional support.
Understanding Cultural Context For expatriates, it's also important to recognize which body pressures come from your culture of origin, which from French culture, and which are universal. Working with a professional who understands this cross-cultural complexity can be invaluable.
Professional Support: Essential and Compassionate
Drunkorexia, by its very nature as a dual disorder (eating + alcohol), requires specialized multidisciplinary support.
The Specialized Eating Disorder Dietitian My role, as a specialized dietitian, is to accompany you toward a peaceful relationship with food and your body, without restriction or guilt. My approach articulates around several axes:
Progressive Nutritional Rehabilitation: Relearning to nourish your body according to its real needs, not according to arbitrary diet or weight control rules
Normalization of Eating: Rediscovering that there are no "forbidden" or "dangerous" foods
Reconnection to Body Signals: Relearning to recognize hunger, satiety, food pleasure
Deconstruction of Nutritional Myths: Understanding what your body actually does with nutrients
Concrete Strategies: Building practical tools for social situations involving alcohol
For international patients, I also address:
How to navigate French food culture without triggering restriction
Strategies for explaining your needs to French friends or colleagues
Understanding French healthcare options and resources
Cultural aspects of recovery and what that might look like for you
The Specialized Psychologist or Psychiatrist Psychological work is essential to address:
Root causes of anxiety and discomfort
Emotional regulation difficulties
Potential trauma (including migration/adjustment trauma)
Dysfunctional thought patterns
Body image relationships
Social skills without alcohol dependence
Cultural identity issues and belonging
The Addiction Specialist If Necessary If alcohol consumption has evolved toward dependence, an addiction specialist can propose specific support for working on reducing or stopping consumption.
The Integrative Approach Ideally, these professionals work in coordination, sharing observations and adjusting their approaches. This synergy maximizes chances of sustainable recovery.
For expatriates, having at least one team member who speaks your language and understands your cultural context isn't a luxury – it's a necessity for effective treatment.
Concrete Tools to Move Forward
The Non-Judgmental Journal Keep a journal (no calorie counting!) where you note:
Your emotions before and after drinking
Situations that trigger the urge to practice drunkorexia
Moments when you succeeded in eating before drinking
Your victories, however small
Cultural moments that felt particularly challenging
This journal isn't a control tool but one of benevolent observation.
Substitution Strategies Identify alternative behaviors when the urge to drink to manage an emotion arises:
Call a trusted friend (even if they're in another timezone)
Practice cardiac coherence or breathing exercises
Go for a walk (Paris has beautiful neighborhoods for this)
Write what you're feeling
Listen to a playlist that soothes you
Use expatriate support apps or online communities
Assertive Communication Learn to say no without justifying: "No thank you, I'm not drinking tonight" without having to explain why. Your relationship with alcohol concerns only you.
This can be particularly challenging in French social contexts where wine refusal might be met with surprise. Practice phrases in both English and French that feel comfortable to you.
Support Network Surround yourself with people who understand and respect your journey. Sometimes this means taking distance from certain social circles, at least temporarily.
For expatriates, this might mean:
Connecting with other internationals who understand cultural adjustment stress
Finding sober activities in the expat community
Maintaining connections with supportive friends from home
Building relationships that don't center on alcohol
HOPE: RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE
Scientific Evidence of Recovery
Research is clear: with appropriate support, the vast majority of people suffering from eating disorders, including those associated with alcohol, can recover completely.
Studies show that:
50 to 70% of people with eating disorders achieve complete recovery with adapted treatment
Early intervention significantly improves prognosis
Multidisciplinary approach gives best results
Social and family support is a major protective factor
Recovery doesn't mean becoming perfect or never having difficulties again. It means recovering a sufficiently peaceful relationship with food and your body to live your life fully, without these preoccupations occupying all mental space.
The Stages of the Journey
The healing journey isn't linear. It more resembles a spiral, where you might sometimes feel you're going backward, when in reality you're moving forward at a deeper level of understanding.
Phase 1: Awareness Recognizing these behaviors are problematic and not viable long-term. This is often the most difficult phase, as it involves renouncing a strategy that seemed to "work."
Phase 2: Stabilization Reestablishing regular and sufficient eating, progressively reducing risky behaviors, building a safety net with professionals and loved ones.
Phase 3: Deep Work Exploring underlying causes, working on body image, developing healthier emotional regulation strategies, rebuilding self-esteem.
For expatriates, this might also include:
Processing migration-related grief or trauma
Redefining identity in a cross-cultural context
Building authentic belonging without compromising health
Phase 4: Consolidation Integrating gains into daily life, navigating social situations with more ease, preventing potential relapses.
Phase 5: Flourishing Redefining who you are beyond your relationship with food and alcohol, investing in life projects, building authentic relationships.
Every Small Step Counts
You don't need to be perfect tomorrow. Each meal taken before drinking is a victory. Each sober evening is a success. Each time you resist the urge to compensate is a step toward freedom.
Change takes time. Be patient and kind with yourself. Relapses are often part of the process and don't signify failure, but rather an opportunity to learn and adjust.
This is especially true for expatriates dealing with the additional stress of cultural adjustment. There will be hard days, lonely days, days when French feels impossible and you just want to drink to feel better. That's okay. What matters is the overall trajectory, not perfection.
You're Not Alone
In Paris and Île-de-France, numerous resources exist to accompany you:
Listening Lines:
Anorexie, Boulimie Info Écoute: 09 69 325 900 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 4-6pm)
Fil Santé Jeunes: 0800 235 236 (7 days/week, 9am-11pm, free and anonymous)
Alcool Info Service: 0980 980 930 (7 days/week, 8am-2am)
Note: While these lines primarily operate in French, many can connect you to English-speaking support or provide basic assistance.
Specialized Associations:
SOS Anor: Individual follow-up and support groups
FFAB (French Federation for Anorexia Bulimia): Network of professionals
Cabinet LIONNES (Paris 20th): Feminist and compassionate space
Specialized Hospital Centers:
Institut Mutualiste Montsouris (Paris 14th)
Hôpital Sainte-Anne (Paris 14th)
Most major Paris hospitals have psychiatric services with English-speaking options
International Support:
Message Boards: International eating disorder support communities
IAEDP: International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (has French members)
Expat support groups in Paris (often aware of English-speaking mental health resources)
Finding English-Speaking Professionals:
Psychology Today France: Lists English-speaking therapists
Expat forums and groups: Often have recommended provider lists
Your embassy: May have mental health resource lists
International schools/universities: Often have counseling services
These structures and professionals know about drunkorexia and are trained to accompany you without judgment. Don't let language barriers or unfamiliarity with the French system prevent you from getting help. There ARE English-speaking professionals who understand both the clinical and cultural aspects of what you're experiencing.
CONCLUSION
Drunkorexia isn't a passing trend or simply a willpower problem. It's a complex disorder, situated at the intersection of contradictory societal pressures, psychological difficulties, and powerful biological mechanisms. Understanding these mechanisms is already the first step toward breaking free.
For expatriates in Paris, this understanding must also include recognition of how cultural adjustment, language barriers, social isolation, and identity navigation contribute to the problem. Your experience is valid, your struggle is real, and you deserve support that addresses all aspects of what you're facing.
What I want you to take away from this article is this: You're not guilty, and you deserve help.
If you recognize yourself in these descriptions, know that asking for support isn't weakness but an act of courage and lucidity. Recovery is possible, and it begins with a first step: recognizing you have the right to live serenely, without your relationship with food and alcohol dictating your existence.
My approach, rooted in kindness and non-restriction, offers you a space to explore these difficulties without judgment. Together, we can build a more peaceful relationship with your body, food, and social situations. Because you're much more than your eating behaviors. Because your value isn't measured in calories or kilos. Because living and eating are two sides of the same coin – and this is as true in Paris as it is anywhere else in the world.
You deserve to enjoy the beauty of Paris, to build meaningful connections, to thrive in your new home – without sacrificing your health or well-being. Recovery is possible, even far from home. In fact, sometimes being in a new place can offer the fresh start needed to build healthier patterns.
Take care of yourself,
Alexis Alliel
Registered Dietitian Specialized in Eating Disorders
English-speaking Consultations Available
RPPS: 10007258733 | N° ADELI: 75 95 0878 1
📞 Book an Appointment
If you'd like to be accompanied on this journey toward a more serene relationship with food and alcohol, I welcome you:
Paris 6th: 59 rue de Seine (Tuesday, Wednesday)
Paris 20th: 11 rue Saint-Blaise (Monday)
Le Raincy (93): By appointment
Via video consultation: For more flexibility (particularly helpful for expatriates with busy schedules or those not yet comfortable navigating Paris)
Book on Doctolib: www.doctolib.fr/dieteticien/paris/alexis-alliel
Phone: +33 6 22 41 55 21
Website: www.alexis-alliel-dn.fr/en
I offer consultations in both English and French, in-person or via video. You deserve support in your language.
📚 Additional Resources
To deepen your understanding of eating disorders and find support:
📚 SOURCES AND REFERENCES INSERT
Official and Institutional Sources
Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) - French Health Authority
Accessed: November 2025
World Health Organization (WHO)
ICD-11: International Classification of Mental Disorders
Alcohol consumption recommendations
Santé Publique France - French Public Health
Lower-risk alcohol consumption guidelines
Accessed: November 2025
Primary Scientific Studies
Burke, S. C., Cremeens, J., Vail-Smith, K., & Woolsey, C. (2010) "Drunkorexia: Calorie restriction prior to alcohol consumption among college freshman." Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 54(2), 17-34.
Foundational study identifying drunkorexia behaviors in 39-46% of college students
Rahal, C. J., Bryant, J. B., Darkes, J., Menzel, J. E., & Thompson, J. K. (2012) "Development and validation of the Compensatory Eating and Behaviors in Response to Alcohol Consumption Scale (CEBRACS)." Eating Behaviors, 13(2), 83-87.
Validation of CEBRACS measurement scale showing 79% of participants engaged in drunkorexia behaviors
Hunt, T. K., & Forbush, K. T. (2016) "Is 'drunkorexia' an eating disorder, substance use disorder, or both?" Eating Behaviors, 22, 40-45.
Analysis of the dual nature: eating disorder/substance disorder
Giles, S. M., Champion, H., Sutfin, E. L., McCoy, T. P., & Wagoner, K. (2009) "Calorie restriction on Drinking Days: An examination of drinking consequences among college students." Journal of American College Health, 57(6), 603-610.
Australian study showing 28% of students practice caloric restriction for alcohol
Barry, A. E., & Piazza-Gardner, A. K. (2012) "Drunkorexia: Understanding the co-occurrence of alcohol consumption and eating/exercise weight management behaviors." Journal of American College Health, 60(3), 236-243.
Analysis of exercise as compensation mechanism
Specialized Associations and Resources
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) - USA
50% of people with eating disorders also have substance use disorders
Rate 5 times higher than general population
Fédération Française Anorexie Boulimie (FFAB)
French network of ED specialized professionals
Helpline: 09 69 325 900
SOS Anor
Eating disorder support association
Individual follow-up and support groups in Paris
Anorexie Boulimie Info Écoute
Helpline: 09 69 325 900
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 4-6pm
Free and anonymous service
Fil Santé Jeunes
Helpline: 0800 235 236
Hours: 7 days/week, 9am-11pm
Free and anonymous
Alcool Info Service
Helpline: 0980 980 930
Hours: 7 days/week, 8am-2am
Information and guidance for alcohol-related problems
International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP)
International network with members in France
Resources for expatriates
Additional Academic Publications
Mellentin, A. I., Mejldal, A., Guala, M. M., Støving, R. K., Eriksen, L. S., Stenager, E., & Skøt, L. (2022) "The impact of alcohol and other substance use disorders on mortality in patients with eating disorders." American Journal of Psychiatry, 179(1), 46-57.
Study on increased mortality with ED/alcohol comorbidity
Lupi, M., Martinotti, G., & Di Giannantonio, M. (2024) "Comprehensive Management of Drunkorexia: A Scoping Review of Influencing Factors and Opportunities for Intervention" PMC Database - Systematic review of interventions
Multidisciplinary analysis of therapeutic approaches
Dunn, E. C., Larimer, M. E., & Neighbors, C. (2002) "Alcohol and eating disorder behaviors: A study of the co-occurrence among college students." Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 16(4), 277-282.
Increased academic, interpersonal, and health consequences
Roosen, K. M., & Mills, J. S. (2015) "Exploring the motives and mental health correlates of intentional food restriction prior to alcohol use in university students." Journal of Health Psychology, 20(6), 875-886.
Motivations and psychological correlates study
Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews
Choquette, E. M., Rancourt, D., & Kevin Thompson, J. (2018) "From fad to FAD: A theoretical formulation and proposed name change for 'drunkorexia' to food and alcohol disturbance (FAD)." International Journal of Eating Disorders, 51(8), 831-834.
Theoretical framework proposal for understanding phenomenon
White, B., & Sirohi, S. (2024) "A Complex Interplay between Nutrition and Alcohol use Disorder: Implications for Breaking the Vicious Cycle." Current Pharmaceutical Design, 30(23), 1822-1837.
Review of biological and nutritional mechanisms
Eisenberg, M. H., & Fitz, C. C. (2014) "'Drunkorexia': Exploring the who and why of a disturbing trend in college students' eating and drinking behaviors." Journal of American College Health, 62(8), 570-577.
Demographic and psychological profile analysis
Neurobiological References
Da Silva, J. S. V., Seres, D. S., Sabino, K., Adams, S. C., Berdahl, G. J., et al. (2020) "ASPEN Consensus Recommendations for Refeeding Syndrome." Nutrition in Clinical Practice, 35(2), 178-195.
Refeeding syndrome risks in context of alcohol + malnutrition
Subramanya, S. B., Subramanian, V. S., & Said, H. M. (2010) "Chronic alcohol consumption and intestinal thiamin absorption." AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, 299(1), G23-G31.
Impact of alcohol on vitamin absorption
Mason, T. B., Smith, K. E., Crosby, R. D., Engel, S. G., & Wonderlich, S. A. (2021) "Examination of momentary maintenance factors and eating disorder behaviors and cognitions using ecological momentary assessment." Eating Disorders, 29(2), 163-178.
Real-time analysis of ED behaviors
International Resources
Center for Discovery (USA)
Resources on dual diagnosis eating disorders and substance use
Expatriate-friendly treatment information
ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders (USA)
Research on drunkorexia and co-occurring disorders
Medical complications information
Lakeview Health (USA)
Information on alcoholism and eating disorders relationship
Dual diagnosis treatment approaches
BEAT (UK)
UK's eating disorder charity
Information for British expatriates
Butterfly Foundation (Australia)
Australian ED support organization
Resources for Australian expatriates
Expatriate-Specific Resources
Access Doctors (Paris)
English-speaking medical services
Mental health referrals
Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne (Paris)
International patient services
Some English-speaking staff
Psychiatric emergency services
American Hospital of Paris
Full English-speaking services
Mental health department
Hertiage-Hospital (Paris)
British-founded hospital
English-speaking psychiatry services
Note on Sources
All sources were consulted and verified in November 2025. Links to official sites are functional as of publication date. For any questions about cited scientific references, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Important: This article is based on the most recent available scientific literature but does not replace medical or psychological consultation in any way. If you're affected by drunkorexia, specialized professional support is essential.
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