Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse

Women who struggle with a distorted body image sometimes have symptoms that result in an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia. Studies have indicated that there may be a connection between eating disorders and substance abuse among those being treated for eating disorders (Blinder, Cumella & Sanathara, 2006; Conason, Brunsein Klomek & Sher, 2006).

The information gained from examining clinical populations of those struggling with an eating disorder and substance abuse has not been measured among a non-clinical community sample until recently. Piran and Robinson examined a group of female college students to assess the connection between eating disorders and substance abuse in 2006.

The study examined data from 526 female undergraduate students from various racial backgrounds. The participants completed questionnaires from The Women’s Health Survey, which included questions from the Eating Disorder Interview Schedule, Questionnaire for Eating Disorder Diagnoses and the Young Canadians’ Alcohol and Other Drug Use Survey.

The questionnaire also included lifetime specific items that gathered information about attitudes regarding dieting to achieve a specific body size, weight perceptions and purging and binging.

The participants were broken into four groups. The first was a control group, in which participants never dieted, purged or binged. The second was participants who dieted and purged but never binged. Group 3 consisted of participants who dieted and binged but never purged, and Group 4 was participants who binged, dieted and purged.

There were three substances that were used commonly among the participants: marijuana, prescription painkillers and hallucinogens or heroin. Participants in Group 2, who dieted and purged but never binged, reported significant cocaine and stimulant/amphetamine use.

Group 3 participants abused more antidepressant and sleeping pills than other groups, while Group 4 reported more cocaine use than other groups.

Limitations of this study include the possibility of self-report bias, due to the stigma associated with both eating disorders and substance abuse. Also, because the study examined the data obtained from female college undergraduates, the results may not be applicable to a general population group.

This study has important implications for helping those with eating disorders. Understanding the increased risk of substance abuse may require more research to examine the correlation between these two behaviors.

Further research should examine which individuals might be most at risk for the co occurrence of substance abuse and eating disorders. When providing treatment or education to those at risk for eating disorders, it would be helpful to recognize the susceptibility to substance abuse as well.
 

Tags: substance abuse