Alcohol intake in relation to body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio: the importance of type of alcoholic beverage.
OBJECTIVE
Alcohol consumption may play a role in the development of obesity but the relationship between alcohol and weight is still unclear. The aim of our study was to assess the cross-sectional association of intakes of total alcohol and of specific alcoholic beverages (wine, beer and spirits) with waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI) in a large sample of adults from all over France.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Participants were free-living healthy volunteers of the SU.VI.MAX study (an intervention study on the effects of antioxidant supplementation on chronic diseases).


METHODS
For 1481 women aged 35-60 years and 1210 men aged 45-60 years, intakes of total alcohol and specific alcoholic beverages were assessed by six 24-hour dietary records. BMI and WHR were measured during a clinical examination the year after.


RESULTS
A J-shaped relationship was found between total alcohol consumption and WHR in both sexes and between total alcohol consumption and BMI in men only (P<0.05). The same relationships were observed with wine (P<0.05); men and women consuming less than 100 g day(-1) had a lower BMI (men only) and WHR than non-drinkers or those consuming more. Spirits consumption was positively associated with BMI (linear regression coefficient beta=0.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.09-0.34 and beta=0.22, 95% CI: 0.06-0.39 for men and women, respectively) and WHR (beta=0.003, 95% CI: 0.001-0.005 and beta=0.003, 95%CI: 0.0002-0.006) in both sexes in a linear fashion. No relationship between beer consumption and BMI or WHR was found.


CONCLUSIONS
If confirmed in longitudinal studies, our results indicate that consumption of alcoholic beverages may be a risk factor for obesity.
Lukasiewicz
Esther
E
UMR INSERM Unit 557/INRA Unit 1125, Institut Scientifique et Technique de la Nutrition et de l'Alimentation, ISTNA/CNAM, 5 rue du Vertbois, F-75003 Paris, France.
Mennen
Louise I
LI
Bertrais
Sandrine
S
Arnault
Nathalie
N
Preziosi
Paul
P
Galan
Pilar
P
Hercberg
Serge
S
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015930:Diet Records; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012737:Sex Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio