Intermittent excessive behaviors: differences in alcohol consumption and binge eating between young adults of rural and urban areas

Abstract

Introduction: Drug abuse and binge eating have been characterized as part of the so-called intermittent excessive behaviors, which share common neurobiological pathways. University students come from very different areas to access higher education, for example, rural environments, where some habits, education, and recreational options differ from those of people who grew up in the city. Contextual cues are crucial in the development of drug addic- tion, but little is known about the role that the living area where individuals grew up has on the development of intermittent excessive behaviors, such as binge eating and binge drinking. Objective: The main aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and comorbidity of alcohol consumption and binge eating behaviors in young adults (18-30 years), considering the living area where they grew up. Method: For this purpose, the AUDIT and the Binge Eating Scale were employed in a sample of 2461 undergraduates. Results: The results showed a significant propor- tion presenting a risky alcohol consumption pattern and a reduced proportion of people presenting binge eating behaviors. Interestingly, in both cases, there was a significant difference between groups, where rural students were more vulnerable to risky alcohol consumption and to developing maladaptive eating patterns.