The Link Between Alcohol and Body Weight

Results
from studies on alcohol intake and body weight are inconsistent.
To help clarify the association between alcohol use and
waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI), researchers
in France analyzed data from 2323 adults, aged 35-60,
who had participated in a study of antioxidant supplementation.
Analyses were adjusted for age, smoking, physical activity,
education, and calorie intake.

• Overall,
  the relationship between total alcohol consumption and
  WHR was J-shaped*; those consuming 0-12 g (equal to
  1 standard drink or less) per day had a lower ratio
  than did those who drank more or abstained. The J-shaped
  relationship was also seen for total alcohol consumption
  and BMI, but in men only.
• The
  J-shaped curves were due primarily to wine intake. Those
  who consumed 0-100 g (up to 8 glasses) of wine per day
  had a lower WHI than did those who drank more wine or
  no wine. The J-shaped relationship was also seen for
  wine intake and BMI, but in men only.
• Spirits consumption increased
  WHR and BMI in a linear fashion for both men and women.
• Beer consumption did not
  significantly affect WHR or BMI.

Comments:

This
study showed a J-shaped association between measures of
obesity and alcohol, primarily wine, intake. Whether the
favorable effects of wine were due to polyphenols or to
inadequate control of confounding (e.g., lifestyle of
wine drinkers versus beer drinkers) is unclear. Therefore,
recommending drinking to prevent obesity would be premature.
However, gaining a better understanding of how alcohol
consumption relates to obesity—an increasingly prevalent
health problem—is very important.

R. Curtis Ellison, MD
Richard Saitz, MD, MPH

Reference:

Lukasiewicz
E, Mennen LI, Bertrais S, et al. Alcohol
intake in relation to body mass index and waist-to-hip
ratio: the importance of type of alcoholic beverage. Public
Health Nutr.
2005;8(3):315-320.