Some types of alcohol, such as beer, may contain wheat and gluten (a protein in wheat and some other grains). It can increase the size of the abdomen, but it is different from bloating. Abdominal bloating after drinking alcohol may be due to gastritis. The main characteristic of gastritis is inflammation in the lining of the stomach. Alcohol does not cause weight gain the same way eating a donut does. It impacts our decision-making, lowers our metabolism, produces additional stress, and traps us in an unhealthy cycle of binge eating and lounging.
Alcohol Disrupts Digestive System
Thus, accounting for both sides of the energy balance equation (intake, expenditure and lifestyle habits) is crucial to evaluate adequately the association between alcohol intake and obesity. Over time, alcohol may make you gain weight if you drink it in excess. Heavy drinking may activate hormones that signal appetite, hunger, and stress. Alcohol is also high in calories but lacks nutrients supporting good health. In contrast, light-to-moderate alcohol consumption does not cause weight gain. Moreover, whether a dieter should be able to manage moderate alcohol consumption depends on its contribution to their daily calorie intake.
Increased calorie intake
Sugar alcohols such as fructose, lactose, raffinose, and sorbitol are found in foods such as fruit. However, some sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol, may also be in some processed foods and beverages to sweeten them. Your liver plays an important role in metabolizing proteins, carbohydrates and fats so your body can use them — but if given the choice, your liver would rather burn off alcohol than fat. Again, you can drink and still lose weight—just keep it within moderate levels and you should be fine. If you want a happier, more stable life, one of the BEST things you can do for yourself is quit drinking alcohol.
Bottom Line on Alcohol and Weight Gain
The important thing is that you factor those calories in along with what you eat, she says. For some people, alcohol may affect their decision-making to the point where it does actually affect their weight. “So it seems like for those highly impulsive participants, reducing their alcohol intake really does benefit their weight loss over time,” she https://ecosoberhouse.com/ says. Although there is evidence to suggest that frequent alcohol intake may predispose to weight gain or obesity over the long-term, this effect is not strongly reflected in the recent research. First, it has been found that alcohol intake increases energy expenditure, likely due in part to the fact that it has a high thermogenic effect [53].
How long does alcohol bloating last?
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, some individuals may suffer both from anorexia and an alcohol use disorder. They often drink rather than eat, believing that alcohol consumption will suppress their appetite. Moreover, in order to compensate does alcohol make you gain weight for the calories ingested from alcohol, these individuals will starve themselves. If you’re looking to lose weight, you may not need to cut out alcohol completely. But cutting back on your alcohol intake can have plenty of health benefits either way.
Temporary Weight Gain After Drinking Alcohol: What’s Going On There?
Alcohol is known to lower inhibitions, impairing the logical decision-making sections of your brain like the prefrontal cortex. Despite containing a lot of energy, alcohol also doesn’t have the same satiating effect as solid food. “If you’re trying to lose weight, what you really want to happen is you want fat burning to be turned on as much as possible,” Wyatt says. For example, your adrenal glands, found on top of your kidneys, secrete cortisol, a stress hormone. Usually, cortisol helps your body respond to stress by increasing blood pressure and heart rate. Now if you’ve ever read anything I’ve written here, you’ll know that I don’t think moderation works for most people.
- Future research must consider the other important factors that may influence the link between alcohol and obesity, some of which are discussed below.
- Alcohol can also cause weight gain, which can resemble bloating.
- While cutting alcohol completely out of your diet isn’t necessarily the only way to lose weight, there are many improvements that can be made in your health journey by simply cutting back on the booze.
- Some evidence suggests that people may seek high-carb foods to satisfy their cravings if their blood sugar dips slightly.
- Alcohol intake of all levels can lead to impaired digestion and absorption of these nutrients.
- It’s used by medical professionals to assess your risk for alcohol dependence.
The Truth About Alcohol And Weight Gain
- “The extra calories from moderate drinking (one serving of alcohol for women a day or two servings for men per day) can certainly fit into the calorie allotment for weight maintenance,” Angelone says.
- Aim to drink a glass of water between alcoholic beverages to reduce dehydration and help curb excessive drinking.
- It impacts our decision-making, lowers our metabolism, produces additional stress, and traps us in an unhealthy cycle of binge eating and lounging.
- A high alcohol intake may cause weight gain by increasing your calorie intake and appetite.