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Drinking Alcohol and a Fat Attack

Women Drinkers Consume More Calories, Fat

The more women drink the worse their eating habits become, a new study reports. Women who drink heavily consume about a third more calories and cholesterol than those who do not drink at all.

A report in the September issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition announced the results of research by Dr. Emmanuelle Kesse from INSERM in Villejuif, France of 73,000 middle-aged French women, who self-reported their drinking and eating habits.

Investigators found that those who drank the most alcohol consumed about 30 percent more calories overall and 32 percent more cholesterol than non-drinkers, regardless of their choice of beverage.

Drinkers reported eating more processed meats, cheese, oil and bread while non-drinkers ate more fruit, vegetables and yogurt, according to the report.

Here are other key findings of the study:

  • Heavy drinkers, or those who consumed at least 2.5 drinks daily, also consumed more iron and vitamins A and E but less beta-carotene than women who drank less.


  • Heavy drinkers were four times as likely to also be smokers, compared to non-drinkers in the study.


  • Drinking may affect health indirectly by increasing the risk of poor nutrition and smoking.


  • Intakes of calories and fat were found to rise in tandem with alcohol intake.


  • Results seem to contradict previous studies showing that moderate drinkers have healthier diets than non-drinkers.


From Buddy T,
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About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Updated: June 9, 2006
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