Food, Alcohol, and Body Image Disturbance (FABID): A reconceptualization of Food and Alcohol Disturbance (FAD), adding body image as a core component

Abstract

Food and Alcohol Disturbance (FAD) was proposed in 2018 to more accurately specify a particular nexus of eating and alcohol-related problematic behaviors consisting of restricting food intake prior to engaging in alcohol use, in order to limit overall caloric consumption and/or enhance the intoxicative effects of alcohol use. In recent years, a good body of research has emerged to address the diagnostic integrity of FAD, along with suggestions of measurement modification, theoretical examination, and clinical intervention. In this paper, it is suggested that the original conceptualization of FAD should be altered to include a core component of body image in the model, thus Food, Alcohol, and Body Image Disturbance (FABID). Support for this modification will be provided by reviewing recent research and providing an extant body image and eating related conceptual model (Tripartite Influence Model) to collectively organize multiple elements into a testable guide for further analysis of the FABID variables.