A new study, “Alcohol Consumption, Weight Gain, and Risk of Becoming Overweight in Middle-aged and Older Women” written about in the Archives of Internal Medicine, reveals moderate alcohol consumption could help combat weight gain in middle-aged women.
Researchers tracked women aged 39 or older, who were of “normal weight” (based on BMI not Hollywood standards) for 13 years. The women, who were light to moderate drinkers, gained an average of three pounds. The non-drinkers gained nine. Wine-loving women rejoice.
Not so fast. There is plenty of conflicting data about the risks/rewards of alcohol. A fine glass of red can be good for your heart but excessive drinking can increase your risk of breast cancer. Alcohol packs a caloric punch but it might save us six pounds (the difference between our fat jeans and the jeans we love) later in life.
Part of the problem, let’s be honest, is how we define light to moderate drinking. Just one glass can be a party if we fill it all the way. Thank you Crate & Barrel. First you brought us the oversized coffee cup and then you supersized the stemware.
One theory about the alcohol/weight loss study is that women are more likely to substitute alcohol for food, hence the reason a calorie-laden cocktail might not impact the scale. But even though the drink might not hit your hips, on an empty stomach it’s sure to hit your head.
And so it seems, despite the sensational headlines:
“Cheers, Ladies! A Drink A Day May Keep the Pounds Away,” ABC
“A drink a day could help keep the pounds away,” Globe and Mail
“Women Who Consume Alcohol Gain Less Weight: Study,” HuffPo
and our favorite,
“Bottoms up for skinnier bottoms,” Independent
the only reliable thing we know about controlling our weight is eat less, move more. And enjoy the occasional five ounces of wine a day.
Oh, and speaking of studies, did you hear older men want more sex than older women? Shocking. Forget the headlines like, “Healthy men need more frequent sex than women: Study” (World News), for a smart take on this study, read Echidne-of-the-Snakes.
