Is There a Link between Different Types of Alcoholic Drinks and Obesity? An Analysis of 280,183 UK Biobank Participants

Abstract

Understanding the associations between types of alcoholic drinks and adiposity has public health relevance, considering that adult overweight and obesity prevalence are increasing worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the association between overall alcohol consumption and types of alcohol drinks with markers of adiposity from the UK Biobank baseline data (n = 280,183, 48.3% female). Generalized linear models were used to examine the associations between alcohol consumption with body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage. Those drinking within the public health guidelines had a lower BMI by 1.34 kg/m2 (95% CI 1.42, 1.26 kg/m2) compared to never drinkers. Association between alcohol consumption and body fat percentage were not statistically significant. Compared to those who never drink wines (red wine, champagne and fortified wine), drinkers of these alcoholic beverages had lower BMI (difference of −0.75 kg/m2, 95% CI −0.78, −0.72 kg/m2; −0.48 kg/m2, 95% CI −0.52, −0.45 kg/m2; and −0.24 kg/m2, 95% CI −0.29, −0.18 kg/m2, respectively). Beer and spirits drinkers had higher BMI compared to never drinkers of beer and spirits (difference of 0.18 kg/m2, 95% CI 0.14, 0.22 kg/m2 and 0.64 kg/m2, 95% CI 0.61, 0.68 kg/m2, respectively). Our data did not find a link between alcohol drinking and higher risk of obesity.

Alcohol Use as a Function of Physical Activity and Golfing Motives in a National Sample of United States Golfers

“…3 Unemployed/Retired includes "never employed" (n = 3, 0.9%), "not employed but looking" (n = 25, 7.4%), and "retired" (n = 72, 21.3%). 4 Some College or less includes "Less than a high school education" (n = 1, 0.3%), "High school education or GED" (n = 30, 8.9%), "some college/no degree" (n = 64, 18.9%), and "Associate's degree" (n = 36, 10.7%). 5 Post-Graduate Degree includes "Master's degree" (n = 62, 18.3%), "Professional degree" (e.g., MD, DDS, etc.)…”

“…3 Sum of winsorized values for vigorous, moderate, and walking PA hours per week. 4 Physical activity volume is based on weighted energy expenditure at each intensity level in MET hours per week [37]. 5 Sum of winsorized values for vigorous and moderate MET hours per week.…”

“…3 Age was mean-centered so that a one unit increase in age corresponds with a one-year increase in age above the sample mean (46 years of age). 4 Walking hours per week was entered into model using the Box-Cox transformed value. 5 MVPA (moderate-to-vigorous) hours per week was entered into model using the Box-Cox transformed value.…”

“…Alcohol also represents a calorically dense (7 kcals/g), discretionary source of energy that may promote passive over-consumption of calories [3]. It accounts for up to 10% of total energy intake in adults, and heavier alcohol use increases weight gain and obesity risk [3][4][5][6][7]. Overweight and obesity account for 40% of all cancer diagnoses due to the negative effects of obesity on cancer onset, growth, survival, and metastasis [8,9].…”

The Beneficial Effects of Principal Polyphenols from Green Tea, Coffee, Wine, and Curry on Obesity

“…Inan-Eroglu et al [ 78 ] examined the associations between types of alcoholic drinks and adiposity in a large United Kingdom cohort ( n = 280,183, 48.3% female). Study data indicated that when compared to non-wine drinkers, red wine, champagne, and fortified wine drinkers had lower BMIs (differences were as follows: −0.75 kg/m 2 , CI: −0.78, −0.72 kg/m 2 ; −0.48 kg/m 2 , CI: −0.52, −0.45 kg/m 2 ; and −0.24 kg/m 2 , CI: −0.29, −0.18 kg/m 2 , respectively).…”