This alcohol does not cause belly fat: Study

It’s another day for wine drinkers to rejoice, as a recent study has found out that apart from increasing life expectancy, wine is good for the waistline as well. People who drink other spirits or beer have more stomach fat than wine drinkers. Here’s what the study found out. (Images courtesy: iStock)

The study conducted by Brittany Larsen, which has been published in the Obesity Science & Practice journal, wanted to examine the effects various alcohols had on body composition in older white adults. The researchers agreed that “ageing is characterized by body composition alterations, including increased visceral adiposity accumulation and bone loss.” They also found out that “alcohol consumption may partially drive these alterations, but findings are mixed.”

The study found that each type of alcohol contains unique nutrient profiles and percentages of alcohol by volume. Therefore, a strong preference for one type of alcohol could contribute to different influences on body composition with long-term use. For example, those who consumed beer and spirit in large quantities have been correlated with a higher waist-to-hip ratio. Likewise, red wine has largely shown null or negligible associations with the waist-to-hip ratio as it has a higher polyphenol content than white wine. It also identified that the type of wine most frequently consumed may also be a distinguishing factor in determining this ratio.

The researchers assessed data from 1,869 white adults aged between 40 and 79 and found that red wine drinkers had less visceral fat, which is the fat that wraps around the abdominal organs and is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. The participants' alcohol consumption was self-reported and their height, weight, blood samples, and body composition were also measured. The researchers also found that those who drink white wine in moderation had better bone mineral density.

The researchers did add to the study and admitted that other environmental and dietary factors can also lead to, or prevent various health problems. However, this does not mean that one should indulge in a drinking habit. One should always drink in moderation and then only the benefits can be gained.