Alcohol can also affect metabolism in ways that promote weight gain. When alcohol is consumed, the body’s metabolism prioritizes processing it over other nutrients. This process, called “fat sparing,” means that the body burns alcohol calories first while storing calories from food as fat. A review by Yeomans [5] highlights some of the potential explanations for alcohol’s influence on weight gain or obesity. First, as previously mentioned, energy from alcohol appears to be additive to energy from other sources [5]. Several studies suggest that consuming alcohol before or during a meal does not influence the amount of food eaten in that meal, despite increasing the energy density of the meal [5].

The Connection Between Alcohol and Weight Gain

But if you’re able to make smart choices about your alcohol diet, exercise the rest of the time, and get a good night’s sleep, drinking alcohol won’t make you put on weight. High-calorie, high carb, and high sugar foods, when consumed with alcohol, will cause weight gain and a beer belly. The calories from alcohol won’t make you feel full leading you to eat more and more. Well, the good news is you can still lose bodyweight from consuming alcoholic drinks if you’re doing it right.

How Does Alcohol Affect Weight Loss?

The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. It’s also important for women who are trying to get pregnant, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding, to reduce or cut out alcohol altogether.

• Besides weight gain, alcohol can also lead to irritation of your gastrointestinal tract, which can cause bloating.
• Your body’s job is to try and survive, so if it senses you’re losing valuable water, it’ll try to hold onto water reserves in return.
• But even if you don’t consume massive amounts of alcohol, you could still be subjecting yourself to serious weight gain.
• That will create an unhealthy ripple effect in other areas of your life.
• “Consuming one or two drinks about four days per week seemed to protect against cardiovascular disease, but drinking every day eliminated those benefits,” she explained in an interview with Medical News Today.

Vodka vs. other types of alcohol

You could blame your ancestors for this as they needed a way to store energy if they didn’t always have food. Even the most die-hard diet fan will have a hard time fighting the urge to dig in when intoxicated. Drinking alcohol is a favorite pastime for humans, both socially and culturally. Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement.

The drug semaglutide accounted for an estimated 88% of new GLP-1 prescriptions written in 2023 and reviewed by the researchers. The researchers cautioned that increasing usage of GLP-1s to treat obesity could drive further shortages of the drugs, which have occurred frequently in recent years. Be careful when choosing flavor add-ins, especially those that contain salt, as rice cakes can easily become a higher-calorie choice.

It boasts of being low in calories and carbs, making it a popular choice among those watching their weight. However, contrary to popular belief, vodka may actually contribute to weight gain if consumed regularly and excessively. Does vodka make you gain weight is a commonly asked question among health enthusiasts.

Eating to Support Your Heart Health in a Food Desert

This means that if you consume your drink in moderation with plain mixers like soda water or diet tonic water, you can still enjoy your cocktail without worrying about packing on pounds. can you gain weight from vodka One drink contains approximately 4 calories per gram, slightly less than the 9 calories per gram found in fat. This means alcohol can be stored as fat and cause weight gain over time.

Before starting a GLP-1 drug, talk with a healthcare professional about the potential risks and benefits. Misconceptions about the benefits and risks of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound are commonly spread. Currently, Glickman says that close monitoring is sometimes the best way to determine long-term fit. However, more research in precision medicine may change this strategy.

You’ve doubled the recommended caloric intake of an entire day in the span of a few hours. You’ve just poured 674 nutritionally https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-is-the-difference-between-alcohol-abuse-and-alcoholism/ empty calories into your body. So yes, it’s possible to gain weight from alcohol, but it’s not inevitable.

• Vodka is known for being a low-calorie drink option, but that doesn’t mean it’s calorie-free.
• While moderate alcohol consumption initially has a sedative effect, high alcohol consumption can interfere with sustained, deep sleep, contributing to daytime sleepiness and other sleep-related problems.
• Have you noticed that the longer you drink vodka every night, the more alcohol you need to get to the same level of intoxication?
• However, more research in precision medicine may change this strategy.
• If nutritional contents are not clearly labeled, the company’s website may have more information.
• Cortisol plays an important role in helping to regulate blood sugar and fight inflammation in the body.