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Research: Calories vs Cocktails: When Diet Culture Meets Binge Drinking

Drunkorexia is a concerning blend of disordered eating and alcohol misuse and is emerging as a significant issue among young women at university. Characterised by behaviours such as meal skipping, excessive exercise, or purging to compensate for alcohol calories, it is often driven by body image pressures and social drinking culture. Recent Australian research found that over 28% of female university students aged 18–24 engage in these behaviours, which are closely linked to underlying emotional challenges such as low self-control, emotional deprivation, and social isolation. This behaviour is not simply a lifestyle choice, it is often a coping mechanism that puts students at serious risk of alcohol poisoning, eating disorders, and poor mental health. Universities have a vital role to play by promoting body-positive culture, raising awareness of the risks, and encouraging regular physical activity as a healthy outlet.

Citation: Powell‐jones, A. & Simpson, S. Drunkorexia: An investigation of symptomatology and early maladaptive schemas within a female, young adult Australian population. Australian Psychologist, 2020. (link)

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University of Wollongong Signs On As Newest FISU Healthy Campus Signatory 

UniSport Australia is excited to announce that the University of Wollongong (UOW) has joined the global FISU Healthy Campus program, reflecting their commitment to embedding wellbeing and active living into the university experience.   Central to UOW’s approach to student health and wellbeing is UOW Pulse, the university’s not-for-profit campus-services arm that delivers a wide range of programs and initiatives designed […]

FISU Healthy Campus Program Signatories

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