Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
Medically Reviewed by Dr P. E. Pancoast, MD
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Beer is an alcoholic drink made from yeast-fermented malt and flavored with hops. There are various types of beers, some lighter than others.
While drinking any kind of beer in moderation may not necessarily make you gain weight, heavy beer consumption can cause belly fat. Any alcohol intake may be a risk factor for obesity in some people.14
Sticking to lighter beers or cutting back on your beer consumption is best to prevent weight gain. You can also abstain from drinking alcohol altogether.8
Drinking in moderation refers to at most two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Even less beer is better for the body. 5,6
Here are some quick nutritional facts about beer:
| Beer | Calories | Alcohol Content |
| 12-ounce light beer | 103 calories | 4.2% |
| Regular 12-ounce beer | 153 calories | 5% |
| Beer with a higher alcohol content (craft beer) | 170 to 350 calories | 10 to 15% |
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Here’s how drinking too much beer can ultimately lead to weight gain down the line:
Beer has calories, and consuming too many calories can cause weight gain. While some beers are lighter than others, even light beers typically contain at least 100 calories, if not more.
These calories are additive to your regular nutritional intake, and the more beers you drink, the more calories you add.4
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. It slows down your brain activity. So, you may fall asleep faster, but you will likely have poorer quality sleep and less of it.1
Drinking too much beer can make it more difficult to stay asleep and experience deep sleep. Greater alcohol intake is linked to sleeping less than six hours per night.15
Sleep deprivation reduces the amount of leptin in your body. Leptin is the hormone that tells you when to stop eating. Sleeping less is associated with eating more, causing weight gain.2,12
Drinking beer can throw your hormones for a loop. In turn, hormonal imbalances can affect your weight.
Chronic beer consumption disrupts the connections between your nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, causing hormonal disturbances that can take a physiological and behavioral toll on you.10
Some effects of hormonal disturbances include:
These, and more, are linked to weight issues.10,11
Drinking beer and other alcoholic beverages reduces your logical decision-making processes. It makes you likely to act in ways you wouldn’t if not drinking.
The immediate gratification of eating is more likely to be indulged rather than suppressed. Eating more than necessary may lead to weight gain.
Drinking too much beer causes a hangover, affecting productivity. You are less likely to engage in physical activities and more likely to make poor dietary decisions. Both of these can lead to weight gain.9
Physically active people are less likely to be drinkers. Exercising also helps problem drinkers because it tends to light up the same reward center in the brain as drinking alcohol.9
Here are some tips to prevent or get rid of a beer belly and lose weight:
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, know that resources are available to help. Contact rehabilitation centers, look for support groups, or contact a mental health professional to discuss other treatment options.13
They’ll connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor
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Beer won’t necessarily make you fat, but drinking too much can lead to weight gain. It also influences your dietary decisions and exercise routine. Avoiding or reducing your beer consumption is recommended to prevent alcohol-related weight gain.
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