Food quality worsens with the consumption of alcoholic beverages in women with binge eating

Context: The phenomenon of binge eating occurs simultaneously with disorders related to alcohol consumption due to the similarity between the symptoms of both conditions, such as lack of self-control, impulsivity and increased self-destructive behavior. The aim of the present study was to analyze the pattern of alcohol consumption in women with binge eating and verify its association with food quality. Methods This is a descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational study with a quantitative approach. Fifty women with a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder participated in outpatient follow-up in specialized services for eating disorders in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data, patterns of alcohol consumption, symptoms of binge eating and food intake were collected through 24-hour recall to assess the quality of food. Data were analyzed descriptively and comparatively using SPSS version 21.0. To verify the association between categorical variables, Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used. Results The women were young adults, predominantly without a partner, employed and with complete high school education. The majority (68%) had overweight, high cardiovascular risk (62%) and some level of binge eating symptoms. It was found that 38% of the participants showed problematic consumption of alcoholic beverages associated with lower quality food and low consumption of vegetables when compared to women who do not use alcoholic beverages. Conclusions Problematic consumption of alcoholic beverages in women with binge eating was frequent and affected the quality of food. These results are worrisome because these behaviors can impair nutritional status and drug therapy and compromise the prognosis of eating disorders.