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People who wish to continue drinking can opt for wine, unmixed spirits, or low alcohol beer in moderate quantities. Drinking alcohol relaxes people’s inhibitions, which can make them more likely to overeat or opt for unhealthful foods. However, alcohol does alcohol make you gain weight also works against you by slowing your metabolism. Once a metabolism has been damaged, to some degree it can’t be “fixed.” Those with eating disorders who keep their body in a constant state of starvation can do permanent damage to their metabolism.
- All food that we eat contains calories and we need to be eating a certain amount of calories each day to live.
- Alcohol contains 7 kcal per gram, compare this to the macronutrients and it sits second behind fat (9 kcal/g) and way above carbs (4 kcal/g).
- Deirdre graduated in 2012 from Pace University and completed her bachelor’s at Columbia University in New York and has her Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner.
- In other words, it thrives on the alcohol instead of any excess fat you might be working towards reducing.
This results in swelling in soft tissues in your body, most noticeably in the face. Depending on how dehydrated you are, this may not significantly affect your weight, but it can affect your perception of weight gain by adding volume to your face. It’s no secret that booze—say an icy margarita to wash down some spicy fish tacos—adds extra calories to your meal. But you might be less clear on the other ways alcohol can screw with your diet.
It makes it difficult to choose healthy options
Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. These aren’t even all the ways alcohol can affect your body—there are many more. Drinking raises estrogen levels and this has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Weight gain is just one of the many health considerations to keep in mind when it comes to your alcohol use and limiting how much you drink. Looking for addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one?
Ethanol contains roughly 7 calories per gram, and most wine and beers also have sugar/carbs. Be sure to track your alcohol consumption so you don’t overshoot your calorie needs. And of course, avoid getting hammered if your goal is to lose weight/not gain weight. Engaging in alcohol abuse can slow down and affect a person’s fat metabolism. The body considers alcohol a toxin/waste, therefore when someone drinks, it metabolizes it, and other nutrients such as fat will be pushed aside.
How Alcohol Makes You Gain Weight
Plus, lower testosterone levels may affect quality of sleep, especially in older men. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and can lead to poor decision-making in the heat of the moment — especially when it comes to food choices. But the body tends to accumulate fat in the abdominal area. Bunmi is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Human Services. Bunmi is dedicated to helping her clients reach their full potential and build their toolkit of resources to support their long-term recovery. Being born and raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland, it was always a dream for James to start a program where he began his own recovery journey.
- Some winemakers even try to enhance the antioxidants in their wines to offer their bottles asfunctional wines.
- At Granite Mountain Behavioral Health in Arizona, we assist those struggling with alcohol use disorder by providing access to comprehensive treatment.
- On the other hand, a hormonal belly is a lower abdominal weight gain that’s caused by a hormonal imbalance with hormones either being too high or too low.
- At Second Nature, you’re provided with a registered nutritionist or dietitian who can support you manage your alcohol intake to suit your lifestyle and preferences.
Eat before drinking.It may sound counterintuitive if you’re trying to cut calories, but eating a good meal before drinking wine may keep you from drinking too much. The more you drink, the more weight you might gain thanks to excess calories alone. As beer generally has more carbs and calories than wine, you’re better off drinking wine.