# Moderate Alcohol Consumption in Women May Reduce Risk of Becoming Overweight or Obese

 

 

      DynaMed Weekly Update - Volume 5, Issue 11 

Moderate alcohol consumption has previously been associated with decreased cardiovascular risk ([BMJ 2006 May 27;332(7552):1244](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16672312& "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16672312&")) and decreased overall mortality ([Arch Intern Med 2006 Dec 11;166(22):2437](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17159008& "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17159008&")) in observational studies. A recent study assessed the effects of alcohol on weight gain in a cohort of 19,220 women (mean age 54 years) who had normal body mass index (BMI 18.5-25 kg/m2) at baseline and were followed for 13 years. All the women were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes at baseline. There was a dose-dependent reduction in the risk of becoming overweight or obese associated with drinking up to 30 grams of alcohol (about 2 drinks) per day compared to no alcohol consumption ([level 2 \[mid-level\] evidence](http://www.epnet.com/dynamed/levels.php "http://www.epnet.com/dynamed/levels.php")). For 15-30 grams/day, the adjusted risk ratio was 0.86 (95% CI 0.8-0.92) for becoming overweight and 0.43 (95% CI 0.34-0.56) for becoming obese. As little as 5 grams/day (2 drinks per week) was found to lower risk. There was no additional risk reduction associated with consuming > 40 grams/day. In an analysis of types of alcohol consumed, red wine was associated with the greatest risk reduction ([Arch Intern Med 2010 Mar 8;170(5):453](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=20212182 "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=20212182")).

For more information, see the [Obesity in adults](http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=dynamed&id=115009 "http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=dynamed&id=115009") topic in DynaMed.