“Don’t drink alcohol” — to avoid empty calories — is routine advice given to dieters. But surprising new research suggests that, compared with nondrinkers, women who drink alcohol in moderation are actually less likely to gain weight and are at lower risk of becoming obese.
Does this mean that we should drink more — or that more of us should drink? No, it doesn’t. Here’s what the study really showed and what we can learn from it…
As reported in Archives of Internal Medicine, my colleagues and I assessed the drinking habits of 19,220 US women age 39 and older who were of normal weight (body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9). About 59% of the women were light or moderate drinkers, consuming fewer than two drinks per day… 3% were heavy drinkers, consuming two or more drinks per day… and 38% were nondrinkers. By the end of the 13-year study, 41% of the women had become overweight or obese.
What surprised us: Compared with nondrinkers, women who drank one to less than two drinks per day had a 30% lower risk of becoming overweight or obese… heavier drinkers had a 27% lower risk than nondrinkers. So among all these women, it was the nondrinkers who were the most likely to have excess weight!
Even so, the absolute changes in weight were relatively modest. On average, over the 13 years, nondrinkers gained about eight pounds… light-to-moderate drinkers gained five to six pounds… and heavy drinkers gained about three and a half pounds. Why did these modest average weight gains bump 41% of study participants from the normal weight category to overweight or obese? Some women gained more than the average amount… and many had started the study in the high-normal weight range.
Previous studies of men had found the opposite — that nondrinkers gain less weight than drinkers. So how do we explain these new findings in the study of women? Theories…
The take-home message…
For normal-weight women who already drink, continued light-to-moderate drinking may provide a modest weight-control benefit. Bonus: Other studies suggest that moderate alcohol consumption lowers heart disease risk.
But: Women who are already overweight should not use alcohol as a weight-loss strategy. Other research suggests that already overweight women may use up fewer calories in metabolizing alcohol — and so may be more likely than lean women to gain weight from a given amount of alcohol.
Furthermore: I do not advise using the new study as a reason to start drinking if you currently abstain, because even moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk for hemorrhagic stroke and certain cancers. Better: Keep pounds off by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthful diet.
If you drink: Even one drink per day (five ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of liquor) can boost cancer risk, so limit yourself to one drink no more than three or four times per week or, alternatively, to half a drink per day.
