Alcohol-Attributable Calories Consumed as a Result of Binge Drinking: A National Survey of Drinkers in the United States.
Estimate the alcohol-attributed calories associated with respondents' (a) most recent binge drinking episode, and (b) binge drinking across a thirty-day period.



Examined responses to a module of the 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), completed by a 10-state sample in the United States (n = 7,375), in order to estimate the alcohol-attributed calories consumed among binge drinkers. Alcohol-attributed calories were estimated by multiplying number of drinks consumed for each category (beer, wine, liquor drinks, and pre-mixed flavored drinks) collected in the BRFSS by caloric averages based on two data sources.



In the past 30 days, respondents averaged 4.13 (SD = 5.84) binge drinking episodes, and consumed an average of 4.15 (SD = 3.55) beers, .67 (SD = 1.56) glasses of wine, 1.49 (SD = 2.53) shots of liquor, and .15 (SD = .79) pre-mixed flavored beverages during their most recent binge drinking episode. The average amount of alcohol-attributed calories consumed during this binge drinking episode was 991.76 (SD = 578.71), with men consuming significantly more calories than females.



Dietary guidelines suggest the calories associated with alcoholic beverages should be considered as part of one's limited allotment of calories associated with solid fats and sugars, yet our results highlight alcohol as a major contributor (approximately 1,000 calories) to the proposed daily caloric needs on binge drinking days.
a Department of Health & Kinesiology , Texas A&M University , College Station , Texas , USA.
Adam E
AE
Barry
b Department of Child Development and Family Studies , Purdue University , West Lafayette , Indiana , USA.
Shawn D
SD
Whiteman
c Department of Health Education and Promotion , East Carolina University , Greenville , North Carolina , USA.
Jennifer
J
Cremeens-Matthews
D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D063425:Binge Drinking; D002149:Energy Intake; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014481:United States
D000431:Ethanol
Alcohol; binge drinking; calories; diet; nutrition