Depression can lead to emotional eating, often causing overeating, especially with calorie-dense comfort foods. For example, Simon says that alcohol can affect levels of reproductive hormones like testosterone and estrogen. Still, an estimated 42% of Americans are obese, and 60% of Americans say they drink alcohol. Now, not all Americans who drink alcohol are obese, and not all obese Americans https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ drink.
Alcohol and cancer: A growing concern
However, if you drink a lot of beer or binge drink regularly then you are at a very high risk of belly fat gain, as well as various other serious health problems. Interestingly, other studies have suggested that drinking beer in moderate amounts of less than 17 oz (500 ml) per day may not carry this risk (7, 8, 16). In fact, one study found that men who drank more than three drinks per day were 80% more likely to have a lot of belly fat than men who didn’t drink as much (15). Even people who are at a normal weight have an increased risk of health problems if they have a large amount of belly fat (13). But will drinking any alcohol prevent you from losing any unwanted fat?
Having a nutritious meal before drinking not only helps slow down alcohol absorption but also prevents overindulgence. Opt for balanced meals rich in proteins and fibers to enhance satiety and curb excessive drinking. For example, 1.5 oz (45 ml) of spirits contains around 97 calories and a standard 5-oz (148-ml) serving of red wine contains 125 calories.
What is Wet Brain? Symptoms Every Heavy Drinker Should Know
Rum and Coke are commonly combined by many people due to their simplicity in creating an alcoholic and potent beverage. Both rum and coke contain a significant amount of calories, and when mixed it is a sugar rush. When using regular Coke, this drink contains 185 calories, while with diet Coke it can go down to 100 calories. To minimize your risk of gaining weight, make sure to keep your alcohol intake within the recommended limits and lead a healthy, active lifestyle.
Mental health
- It’s important to note that while quitting alcohol is a positive step for weight management, adopting a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular exercise further enhances the effectiveness of shedding belly fat.
- That’s because alcohol can weaken your immune system, slow healing and make your body more susceptible to infection.
- When you are done, have a non-alcoholic drink, such as water or low-calorie soda, before having more alcohol.
- Jean-Philippe Chaput holds a Junior Research Chair in Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research.
A standard 12-oz (355-ml) serving of beer contains more than both of these at 153 calories (2, 25, 26). This is because your body prioritizes the breakdown of alcohol over other sources of fuel, including stored fat. Beer also contains small amounts of micronutrients, including sodium, potassium and magnesium. However, it’s not a particularly good source of these nutrients, as you would need to drink massive amounts to satisfy your daily requirements. At Healthgrades, our Editorial Team works hard to develop complete, objective and meaningful health information to help people choose the right doctor, right hospital and right care. Our writers include physicians, pharmacists, and registered nurses with firsthand clinical experience.
How To Avoid Gaining Weight The Day After Drinking
Men are also more likely to drink beer, which is carbohydrate rich, and provides more energy than wine per standard drink 5. In closing, while alcohol does contain empty calories, drinking in moderation likely won’t lead to significant weight gain. However, heavy or binge drinking can sabotage weight loss efforts.
What is light, moderate, and heavy drinking?
If you feel you may have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, support and treatment resources are available. With commitment and lifestyle adjustments, achieving your health goals is within reach. The journey begins with the first step, so be encouraged to start anew today. Overall, obesity is a multi-factorial condition and it is difficult to truly assess the independent influence of alcohol intake on obesity risk. The slow development of Sober Houses Rules That You Should Follow obesity and multi-faceted nature of this condition really complicates the possibility to show a cause-and-effect association between alcohol consumption and weight gain.
- Opt for lower-calorie alcoholic options like dry wines, light beers, or spirits mixed with zero-calorie sodas or seltzers.
- Gram for gram, beer contains as many calories as a soft drink, so it has the potential to add a lot of calories to your diet (2, 3).
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- Furthermore, beer and spirit drinkers appear to have poorer dietary habits in general than wine drinkers 3•.
- Men tend to drink more than women, which can result in more weight gain.
We also look into how long alcohol-related bloating lasts and how to get rid of it. Force yourself to choose nutrient-dense food, lots of water, and get moving – even if it’s just a walk for fresh air. If you want to fight that post-drinking bloat and digestive distress, one of the best things to do is get back on track as soon as possible. Now if you’ve ever read anything I’ve written here, you’ll know that I don’t think moderation works for most people.
It changes how your body processes fat
Alcohol does not only make you gain weight but also impacts your weight loss by stopping your body from burning fat. In fact, one of the most risky behaviors for developing a beer belly seems to be binge drinking. Studies have found that drinking more than four drinks at one time can increase your risk of belly fat, no matter what drink you choose (19, 37, 38, 39). A high alcohol intake may cause weight gain by increasing your calorie intake and appetite. However, more research is needed to fully understand the link between alcohol and weight gain. Alcohol can affect many areas of your health, such as digestion and your ability to think clearly.