Effect of spontaneous alcohol intake on heart rate and dietary intake of free-living women.
Moderate alcohol consumers obtain excess calories from alcohol and these additional calories do not result in weight gain. This study examined the contribution of alcohol to the total caloric intakes and expenditures of light to moderate alcohol consumers and compared the data to soda drinkers. Physical activity levels were measured by employing continuous heart rate monitoring for a 6-day normal phase and a 6-day abstinence phase. The normal food intake of both groups was recorded in diet diaries. Subjects' overall intake of food energy during the alcohol week was significantly higher than during any of the other three phases (an excess of 241 kcal/day). This study suggests that excess alcohol calories are compensated by an increase in energy expenditure, as evidenced indirectly by increased heart rates occurring between the hours of 2300 and 0700 h, increased self-reported nightly restlessness, increased wake time, and exercise.
Orozco
S
S
Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30303.
de Castro
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001628:Beverages; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged