Female wine drinkers have less obesity risk--study

Researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston have found out that alcoholic beverages are used by the body to generate heat rather than fat, which is what normally other foods do. They also established that red and white wines in particular are known to strengthen lung functions.

Spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, Catherine Collins said, “What this survey shows is that moderation is key to a healthy lifestyle.”

“People who drink wine may be more likely to snack on sugary and more calorific treats,” added Collins.

19,220 women studied
The research team conducted the study on 19,220 healthy American women, aged 39 or over, to determine the effects of wine on their body.

For the study, researchers enquired the subjects on their drinking habits and maintained records of the same.

The subjects were studied for a period of 13 years to come to long term authentic results.

Of the total number of subjects, 38 percent were non-drinkers.

Results of the study
On analysis, it was found that the non-drinker group gained the most weight during the time of the study.

On the other hand, the researchers revealed that females drinking was less prone to obesity and results were particularly in favour of red wine-drinkers, who gained the minimum weight over a period of 13 years.

However, females having beer and spirits had a slightly higher tendency to be obese, than wine-drinkers.

But, the study cautioned that even wine could do harm to avid drinkers and that it should not be taken as a weight loss alternative.

“If these women have a healthy diet and lifestyle and are having one or two units of alcohol a night then that has less calories than someone who instead has a chocolate bar to unwind,” said Collins.

Hence, lead researcher, Lu Wang, MD, PhD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital stated that, the body burns foods and calories in different ways.

According to Wang, the liver breaks down alcohol using a different metabolism thus creating heat instead of fats, which happens in case of other food products or beverages like beer.

The results of the study therefore, happen to oppose the earlier view that alcohol leads to weight gain.

The study appears in Archives of Internal Medicine.