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A review led by Bournemouth University researchers has highlighted the extent to which people seeking help for alcohol problems may also be struggling with a second, hidden problem with food and eating. Despite this evidence that many people experience both conditions at the same time, support for eating disorders and alcohol recovery is provided separately in health care systems.

The researchers warn that failure to identify this link earlier can make it harder for a patient to recover and increase the risk of leaving treatment early.

Their findings have been published in the Journal of Eating Disorders.

The research team, led by Anna Preece, a Ph.D. student at Bournemouth University, reviewed 44 previous studies to understand how common this overlap is and what drives it. They found that both issues are often rooted in the same underlying difficulties, particularly trouble managing emotions, low self-esteem and impulsive behavior.

Bulimia nervosa was the eating disorder most frequently reported across the studies reviewed.

"Health care systems have well-established recovery programs for alcohol problems and disordered eating," said Preece, a Ph.D. student at Bournemouth University who led the study. "However, treating them as distinct problems does not reflect reality for many people with alcohol problems who also struggle with overeating, restricting what they eat or using food to cope with their emotions," she added.

The findings raise questions about treatment models that focus solely on alcohol abstinence without considering a person's relationship with food.

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