Light to moderate drinking reduces the risk of significant weight gain in White women by 6-14%

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Sunday, August 28, 2005 11:21 pm Email this article
Light to moderate drinking is not associated with weight gain in women, however, heavy drinking is according to a study from researchers at the Royal Free and University College Medical School in London, England. Women who drank up to one drink per day were 6-14% less likely to gain 11 lbs

Over and eight year period, from 1991 to 1999, compared to non-drinkers:

• women who consumed 0.1 to 4.9 grams of alcohol per day—up to one-sixth of an ounce of alcohol per day which is roughly up to one drink per week—were 6 percent less likely to gain 11 pounds or more
• women who consumed 5 to 14.9 grams of alcohol per day—up to 0.5 ounces of alcohol per day which is one drink every two days—were 8 percent less likely to gain 11 pounds or more
• women who consumed 15 to 29.9 grams of alcohol per day—up to 1 ounce of alcohol per day which is about one drink per day—were 14 percent less likely to gain 11 pounds or more
• women who consumed 30 grams or more of alcohol per day—more than one ounce of alcohol per day or more than one drink per day—were 7 percent more likely to gain 11 pounds or more over an eight year period

Heavy drinking increases risk of weight gain in younger women by 64%

Younger women were most affected by heavy drinking.

Women under the age of 35 who were heavy drinkers, defined as consuming more than 30 grams of alcohol per day, or roughly more than one drink per day, were 64 percent more likely to gain at least 11 pounds during the eight year follow-up.

Light drinking increases risk of weight gain in Black women by 143%

In Black women, light drinking increased the risk of gaining 11 pounds or more during the eight year follow-up by 143 percent.

Conclusion: Light drinking increases the risk of weight gain in Black women, heavy drinking increases the risk in White women

“Heavier drinking may promote weight gain in women,” the authors concluded.

“[L]ight to moderate drinking (up to 30 grams per day) is not associated with weight gain in women except possibly in African-American women.”

Subjects: 49,324 women 27-44 years-old

The study followed 49,324 women 27- to 44-years-old who did not have a history of cardiovascular disease, cancer, or diabetes, who were not pregnant during the study period, and who reported their body weight in 1991 and again in 1999.

REFERENCE

Wannamethee S, Field AE, Colditz G, Rimm E. Alcohol intake and 8-year weight gain in women: a prospective study. Obes Res. 2004 Sep, 12(9):1386-96.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Department of Primary Care and Population Science
Royal Free and University College Medical School
Rowland Hill Street
London, NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
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