Observational studies on the effect of alcohol intake on obesity date back almost 30 years [6]. It has been examined across small and large cohorts, in many countries, across various ethnicities and age groups [4]. Within the large body of observational research, contradictory findings exist, which warrant further exploration [3•, 4]. He earned a Bachelor’s degree at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania while pursuing his CAC-AD.

One pound of fat is approximately equal to 3,500 calories, so if you have five beers with your buddies once a month for a year, that could result in an additional 2.6 pounds. Doing five shots once a month for a year can add up to 5,820 calories, or 1.6 pounds https://ecosoberhouse.com/ of weight gain. In general though, I will always recommend to moderate your drinking because it can result in a whole host of negative health effects that are unrelated to weight gain. And don’t forget calories from the foods you wash down with those beers.

Get Diet and Fitness Tips In Your Inbox

Furthermore, factors that may explain the conflicting findings in this research area are discussed. Finally, recommendations for future research are provided to promote a better understanding of the possible obesity-promoting effects of energy intake from alcohol. A recent animal study found that mice given ethanol over a period of three days demonstrated a significant increase in food intake.

They however noted that about half of the obese participants gained weight, with the largest weight gain being 1.8 kg [48]. In a randomized crossover study, Cordain et al. [49] found that drinking two glasses of red wine (270 mL) with dinner daily for six weeks did not lead to changes in weight or body fat percentage in 14 men. They noted that self-reported nutrient intake and physical activity did not differ between conditions, although there may have been dietary compensation that was not accurately reported by their 3-day food logs [49].

Makes It Harder To Get Quality Sleep

By comparison, a recommended afternoon snack should have between 150 and 200 calories. A night out with several drinks can lead to consuming a few hundred extra calories. While this may sound all doom and gloom, there are benefits of alcohol. Moderate alcohol consumption (1 drink per day for women) increases your HDL (good) cholesterol, and studies show that people who have a couple of drinks each week live longer. Alcohol does contain calories, which, yes, can cause weight gain.

This experience allowed him to learn the inner workings of almost any aspect of a company. It also taught him the value of building meaningful relationships with clients and having a strong ethical framework. Over the past several months, Erin has worked with our team to create a strong clinical program for our residential location in Buckeystown.

Can Alcohol Affect the Prevalence of Seasonal Depression?

Furthermore, as I and countless others have found, alcohol has a “disinhibiting” effect and can stimulate people to eat more when food is readily available. “The extra calories taken in with alcohol are stored as fat,” he reminded drinkers. Unlike protein, fats and carbohydrates, alcohol is a toxic substance that is not stored in the body. Alcohol calories are used for fuel, thus decreasing the body’s use of other sources of calories. That means people who drink must eat less or exercise more to maintain their weight. Yet you probably know people who routinely drink wine with dinner, or a cocktail before it, and never put on an unwanted pound.

Sydney Tubbs is a driven and compassionate Operations Director at The Freedom Center. With a profound understanding of the complexities surrounding addiction, Sydney has dedicated her career to improving the lives of individuals struggling with substance abuse. Her exceptional leadership skills, coupled with her unwavering commitment to delivering high- quality care, have allowed her to successfully oversee the day-to-day operations of a leading addiction treatment facility. With herself and her staff their main goal is to provide a safe, nurturing environment for our clients. Through her relentless pursuit of excellence, Sydney empowers individuals on their journey towards recovery, offering hope and healing to those in need. While it might sound like a good thing that those alcohol calories are being used, it’s bad news for the food in your stomach.

Again, you can drink and still lose weight—just keep it within moderate levels and you should be fine. While liquor is a lower-calorie option, it really depends on what you drink with it. Mixers can add a lot of extra sugar and fat to does alcohol make you gain weight the drink, increasing calorie intake. For example, one 12-ounce pint of a stout beer provides about 220 calories, which is the same as eating a snack with three tablespoons of hummus, ten baby carrots, a stalk of celery, and an apple.

This leads to decreased digestive secretions and movement of food through the tract. Even the most die-hard diet fan will have a hard time fighting the urge to dig in when intoxicated. Drinking alcohol is a favorite pastime for humans, both socially and culturally. Alcohol is “kind of a stressor for your body, so it can cause your body to lose proper cortisol secretion,” Lashinger says. “And cortisol is responsible for a lot of our bodily functions.”