Alcohol Consumption and Obesity: An Update PMC

It’s not necessarily beer but too many calories that can turn your trim waistline into a belly that protrudes over your pants. Any kind of calories — whether from alcohol, does alcohol cause you to gain weight sugary beverages, or oversized portions of food — can increase belly fat. However, alcohol does seem to have a particular association with fat in the midsection.

• Some research even suggests that a moderate amount of wine can help reduce your body weight.
• People also tend to underestimate how much they’re drinking, Stanford says.
• If you have concerns about your alcohol intake, you should always follow up with your doctor.

Over the years he grew into becoming an advocate for people in recovery or seeking recovery from substance use disorders. James is a CCAR Recovery Coach and believes in developing meaningful relationships, and providing highly individualized therapy and client care. In 2017, James had the opportunity to combine his business experience and passion for recovery to start The Freedom Center. In autumn and winter, the days get shorter, and skies are often cloudy, depriving us of natural sunlight and unleashing all sorts of mood disturbances in many people. This is often known as seasonal depression, winter depression, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD)…. Alcohol is known to lower inhibitions, impairing the logical decision-making sections of your brain like the prefrontal cortex.

When to Talk to Your Doctor About Alcohol Use

Being a person in long term recovery, Erin wanted to give back and help those struggling with the disease of addiction. Erin decided to switch careers and went back to school to obtain her Addiction Counseling certification. In addition, to being a certified Addictions Counselor, Erin is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS), and a Registered Peer Supervisor (RPS). Insomnia is a common symptom of alcohol withdrawal, especially in the early stages of recovery. In fact, sleep disturbances can persist for months despite continued abstinence. Some studies have shown that sleep disturbances can increase the chance of relapsing….

• Some individuals can drink alcohol moderately, and others can’t, which is a reason why dependency and addiction develop.
• Researchers are still trying to understand exactly what role red wine plays in overall health.18 And don’t forget, red wine still has empty calories that can impede your weight loss efforts.
• Dry red wines high in antioxidants are a good option for dieters seeking health benefits from their wine.
• Not taking into account some of these potential confounding factors can certainly lead to biased estimates of the relationship between alcohol intake and body weight given that large inter-individual variations exist.

People have said drinking too much beer can give you a larger stomach (or a “beer belly”), but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. However, moderation is key, and becoming knowledgeable about the contents alcohol contains is important. Some individuals can drink alcohol moderately, and others can’t, which is a reason why dependency and addiction develop.

Practical tips to reduce alcohol intake

Research shows, however, that even infrequent binge drinking can thicken your midsection. Some studies suggest that drinking red wine, particularly in the evening, can reduce belly fat over time. Unfortunately, these studies often include participants who follow healthy eating plans like the Mediterranean diet, so it can be challenging to pinpoint the real reason for those flat bellies. We’re not here to tell you that you can’t drink alcohol at all (there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a glass of wine with dinner on occasion). Instead, if you want to lose weight opt for alcohol that contains fewer calories like red wine instead of beer and white wine. Higher alcohol consumption (especially binge drinking) stops your body from burning fat, leads to more hunger and less satiety (the feeling of being full) and it leads to bad food choices like getting a big takeaway after a night out [6].

Himself, an alumni of The Freedom Center, Michael brings a personal experience of the program to his role. A resident of Gaithersburg, Michael has planted roots and established a network in the local recovery community. Michael’s goal is to connect current client and alumni with resources to strengthen their life in recovery. After graduating high school, he attended college at the University of Coastal Carolina & Salisbury University. In 2014, Corey moved to Florida where he worked in retail sales.

Foods That Raise HDL: Increasing Good Cholesterol Levels

You do not have to forego alcohol entirely to control your weight. Instead, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise that you drink in moderation. That’s at most one drink per day for females and two for males. After a few drinks, you may be more likely to make unhealthy food choices without thinking about it. Instead, your liver prioritizes breaking down alcohol rather than fat.

On the other hand, women tend to store fat around their thighs and bum, giving them more pear-shaped bodies [3]. Women are also more likely to have subcutaneous fat, whereas men tend to have more visceral fat. Visceral fat also makes up only one-tenth of all fat stored in the body, producing chemicals and hormones that can be pretty harmful and toxic to the body [1]. It appears that the respective oligomers of adiponectin each have a distinct role in preventing metabolic abnormalities [3].

It doesn’t stop there, alcohol can also affect a person’s pancreas, which supports healthy digestion. Make margaritas with real lime juice, use sugar-free tonic water, or even naturally calorie-free club soda instead of regular tonic water and other high-calorie carbonated drinks. (These healthy summer cocktails will satisfy your craving while minimizing your sugar consumption. A glass of wine is not a glass filled to the brim, but 5 oz (red wine glasses can hold oz when filled). Here are some ways drinking alcohol and weight loss can, in fact, work together. I recently experienced a pretty tough life with my ex-husband & then we went through a divorce.

• Crouse and Grundy [48] looked at the effect of adding 630 kcal/day of alcohol to the diets of 12 men in a metabolic unit.
• Insomnia is a common symptom of alcohol withdrawal, especially in the early stages of recovery.
• Increasing your physical activity by incorporating exercise into your routine is also important, whether that’s going for a swim after work, taking a Pilates class, daily walking or hitting the gym.