Alcohol And Weight Gain - Pouring On The Pounds

Alcohol is full of "Empty" calories, which are immediately converted to fat, and promptly deposited on our hips and bellies, right? Well, it’s not that simple. Numerous studies on the relation between alcohol consumption and body weight are often contradictory.

How much alcohol, what type of alcohol, lifestyle and gender all seem to play a role in determining how alcohol will affect your weight.

Add Calories - Here’s An Approximate Breakdown:

• An average 12-ounce domestic beer contains about 150 calories
• A 3 1/2-ounce glass of sweet wine contains about 150 calories
• 1 1/2 ounces of 90-proof alcohol contains 110 calories

Not only does alcohol add unneeded calories but it also inhibits your ability to burn fat. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver and converted into a substance called acetate. When we consume alcohol, our acetate levels rise and our bodies then burn acetate as fuel instead of burning the fat we are trying to lose.

So, alcohol not only adds empty calories, but also hampers the normal fat-burning processes.

Party Hard And Gain Weight

Many studies have revealed, and most health professionals agree, that weight gain is greatest among men who are persistent high-volume drinkers. The more they drink and the longer they drink, the more weight they gain.

Although alcohol adds calories, research has proven that light to moderate drinking (two or less drinks per day) is not associated with weight gain in women.

Similarly, a recent study that sought to correlate body mass index (BMI) with alcohol consumption, found that individuals who drank one to two drinks per day had much lower BMI's than those who drank larger amounts of alcohol per day, but drank once or twice per week.

In other words, those who "party hearty" on the weekends are more likely to retain the calories for alcohol and gain weight than those who drink in moderation.

Overall, the available data support the conclusion that daily alcohol intake of three or more drinks per day contributes directly to weight gain.

For More Information - "Recovery Network" Website

A 12-Session Alcohol and Drug Education Program for Families. This family education DVD helps families understand the process of addiction and recovery.

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See You Next Month! Bob :-)