Compensatory Eating Behaviors, Alcohol Consumption and Opioid Use in a Clinical Sample

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of compensatory eating behaviors in relation to alcohol consumption in a clinical sample, to assess the moderating capabilities of opioid use in relation to alcohol use and compensatory behaviors, and to examine the predictive capabilities of gender-specific binge drinking in relation to compensatory behaviors.

Methods: The Compensatory Eating Behaviors in Relation to Alcohol Consumption Scale (CEBRACS), an opioid use survey, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were administered to residents at an addiction treatment facility (n = 77) over a period of 6 months.

Results: Morphine was the only opioid to have significant relationships with the CEBRACS alcohol effects (r = - .33), diet/exercise (r = - .38), and restrictive eating (r = - .31), subscales (all p < .001), but not with the bulimic subscale. Heroin had the strongest correlations with all other opioids. Opioid use did not have a significant moderating effect between alcohol frequency and the CEBRACS in a single moderating regression analysis (b = .84, t(73) = .43, p = .67). Men (Mdn = 27.00) and women (Mdn = 33.00) did not differ on the CEBRACS, although women ranked higher than men (U = 678.00, z = - .68, ns, r = .08). Binge drinking predicted CEBRACS scores in both males (b = .50, t(38) = 3.59, p < .001) and females (b = .60, t(35) = 4.46, p < .001).

Conclusions: Individual dietary habits fluctuate throughout alcohol consumption and the goals of the individual  are crucial in discerning specific substance use vs disordered eating motivations.