Does Drinking Alcohol Make You Gain Weight?

03/04/2021

Does Drinking Alcohol Make You Gain Weight?

Usually, weight loss journeys go hand-in-hand with cutting back on alcohol…but why is that? The question of ‘will drinking make me gain weight?’ is complicated. It can lead to weight gain, but alcohol isn’t guaranteed to add pounds in all cases. Overall, it depends on your body and behaviors.

How Does the Body Break Down Alcohol?

Everyone’s body breaks alcohol down slightly differently, but there is always the same general process. Alcohol is broken down into acetate, which is burned before sugar and fat. It is usually burned first in the body and used as a type of fuel source. Bodies may thrive on alcohol and hold onto excess sugar or fat from food. Your liver plays a big role in breaking down alcohol.

It is used to both filter out toxins and metabolize carbs; so if your liver isn’t functioning correctly, your body may have a negative response. Additionally, calories in alcohol are stored in the body as fat. These calories, like all others, could eventually cause weight gain.

Why Drinking Alcohol May Lead to Weight Gain

In addition to the calories in alcohol, there are several other reasons why drinking might cause weight gain. Here are just a few:

A few glasses of alcohol could give you a daily serving of calories
Calories in alcohol are ‘empty,’ which means they don’t offer any nutrients
Consuming anything that’s high in sugar, like cocktails, may lead to weight gain
Alcohol consumption slows down the metabolism
Drinking may affect your sleep, which can have an impact on weight
Alcohol may cause stress on the intestines, which play a role in weight
Drinking alcohol lowers inhibitions, especially with food
Alcohol causes hunger; most of the food at bars is high in calories

So there are many ways that alcohol may cause weight gain, but will it cause you to personally gain any weight?

Will You Gain Weight From Drinking Alcohol?

This depends on a few factors, starting with your drinking behaviors. What you drink, how much/how often you drink, and what you eat when you drink could all contribute to potential weight changes. For example, a glass of wine contains about 150 calories and a low-calorie beer has about 100. Mixed drinks, on the other hand, could contain up to 300 calories. If you drink two mixed drinks, you could reach your recommended calorie intake for the day; so anything you eat will just be added calories. Individual weight gain from alcohol may also depend on:

Your overall diet
Genetics
Your level of physical activity
Demographics (age, gender)
Other health factors

If you think alcohol may have contributed to weight gain, consider these factors to see if it’s time to cut back.

Working on Weight Loss?

If you’re thinking of beginning a weight loss journey, you could definitely benefit from cutting back on alcohol. Doing this can promote weight loss, increase digestion, and improve sleep. In addition to keeping track of your alcohol intake, completing a healthy exercise routine and having a balanced diet is vital to see success in weight loss. To learn more about alcohol addiction and its possible impact on weight, contact our health professionals by calling us at 267.209.7313 or visiting us here.