Drinkers ‘less likely to be obese’

Press Association
Monday December 5, 2005 3:08 AM

Drinking alcohol in small amounts regularly could mean you are less likely to become obese than if you do not drink at all, new research suggests.

The US study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, may appear to contradict the traditional image of the beer belly often found attached to those who like a drink or two.

But the researchers said the results did not mean teetotallers should turn to the bottle in the battle of the bulge.

Dr Armed Arif, of Texas Tech University, and Professor James Rohrer, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, analysed the results of a health and nutrition survey, focusing on 8,236 non-smokers who took part.

The respondents were asked to fill in a questionnaire about their drinking habits, while their body mass index was also measured.

The survey found that 46% of the group were “current drinkers” who drank at least one drink a month on average, while those who drank four or more drinks a day were classified as heavy drinkers.

The researchers found current drinkers had a 0.73 lower chance of being obese compared to non-drinkers. They said that those who drank one or two drinks regularly, but less than five drinks a week, were significantly less likely to be obese compared to non-drinkers and heavy drinkers.

But heavy drinkers were 46% more likely to be obese compared to those who drank nothing at all.

Dr Arif and Prof Rohrer said: “The odds of overweight and obesity were significantly higher among those who indulged in binge drinking and/or heavy drinking – consuming four or more drinks per day.

“In contrast, light to moderate drinking – consuming one or two drinks per day – was associated with lower odds of overweight and obesity.”

Source: guardian.co.uk