The relationship between Alcohol and weight gain

Blatter

First off I'd like to say that this is not a thread on the health benefits/dangers of alcohol, just solely about it's relationship with weight gain.

I've been doing some research on this lately and it has yielded some varying results. Basically, some studies show a relationship between alcohol and weight gain, others show that there is no relationship between alcohol and weight gain, and in fact, some show a slight decrease in weight in women who drink alcohol.

My understanding is that most of these studies are inconclusive as there are two macronutrients in the most popular alcoholic beverages, alcohol and carbohydrate. We know alcohol contains 7 calories a gram but it seems very unclear exactly how the body metabolises alcohol. Research does suggest that calories derived from alcohol are not efficiently used.

My own conclusion is that low carb drinks such as vodka, gin, whiskey, certain wines etc. do NOT lead contribute at all significantly to weight gain(as long as they are not being mixed with a calorie dense mixer) but Beer, alcopops etc. CAN lead to weight gain but it's effects are overstated, to different degrees, as the calories stated for these beverages do not take into account how the body metabolises alcohol.

Has anyone else done any research on this before? If so, I'd like to hear your take on it.

Btw, plenty of literature on this if anyone wants to have a look.

''Alcohol, Calories & Weight''

"Patterns of alcohol drinking and its association with obesity: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994"

"Influence of moderate daily wine consumption on body weight regulation and metabolism in healthy free-living males"

"Alcohol intake in relation to diet and obesity in women and men"

"Alcohol intake and body weight: a paradox"

"Effects of alcohol intake on resting energy expenditure in young women social drinkers"

"Alcohol and energy intake"

Red Cortina

Think Martin Berkan has a good summary of alcohol consumption vs fat loss here: http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/truth-about-alcohol-fat-loss-and-muscle.html

El_Dangeroso

Alcohol makes me soooo hungry the next day after a session, like I'll eat a huge brekkie and then I'm hungry again an hour later. Anyone else find the same?

Blatter

Red Cortina wrote: »

Think Martin Berkan has a good summary of alcohol consumption vs fat loss here: http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/truth-about-alcohol-fat-loss-and-muscle.html

Oh yeah I remember that article, I think rocky linked it ages ago.

Alcohol is labeled as 7.1 calories per gram, but the real value is more along the lines of 5.7 calories due to the thermic effect of food (TEF) which is 20% of the ingested calories.

I'd love to know if there have been other studies that show the body only ''uses'' ~5.7 out of the total 7.1 calories. I did imagine that it would be a little less than 5.7.

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Alcohol makes me soooo hungry the next day after a session, like I'll eat a huge brekkie and then I'm hungry again an hour later. Anyone else find the same?

Yes, especially salty foods:(

Frogdog

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Alcohol makes me soooo hungry the next day after a session, like I'll eat a huge brekkie and then I'm hungry again an hour later. Anyone else find the same?

I'm the exact same. I could eat for hours non-stop, be full, but for some unknown reason have a "hunger" feeling in my brain.

Brain says no, belly says go!

jam_mac_jam

It lowers your inhibitions so you eat things you usually wouldnt, you eat a lot more the next day. You are much more likely to eat crap and not exercise the next day, so while I have no studies it has a large effect on my own weight.

skylight1987

wine definately makes you eat more , i started drinking it about ten years ago , its lovely to have a glass after a hard day , and that when my weight went up by about a stone over the course of a year the only time i loose that stone is when i go off the wine

boogle

LOVE a few glasses of red wine at the weekends. I definitely crave nibbles when I'm drinking wine. Used to be crisps,doritos,cheese. Nowadays I limit it to a few kalamata olives or some houmous and celery. Still though, when I'm drinking I feel like I could eat a horse!

Bottle_of_Smoke

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Alcohol makes me soooo hungry the next day after a session, like I'll eat a huge brekkie and then I'm hungry again an hour later. Anyone else find the same?

Yeah really enjoy massive meals the next day. Particularly chips/pizza type stuff.

I also find it makes me very hungry at the end of the night so usually get a kebab/curry and favorite fish n chips

So overall I think the relationship of weight gain is indirect but significant

metamorphosis

It's the next day im affected. I can't stomach bug meals but snack allllllllll day long.

Was out friday, drank way too much of absolute citrus vodka

The amount of oatcakes with hummus, creamed up coffee, oz's of dark chocolate and pickled eggs i had was unreal like. What a weird combo of food the day after.