Finishing the night with a glass of vino (or two) might seem like a natural way to unwind, but if you’re trying to shed kilos, it’s the last thing you want to be doing according to new research.
The link between alcohol and obesity has been thrown back into the spotlight after an extensive study of 14 million men and 12 million women was presented at the European and International Congress on Obesity.
The study showed men who drank a glass of wine a day were 10 per cent more likely to be prone to obesity and the health problems that come with it, and those who dabbled further 25 per cent more likely.
For women, half a glass of wine raised the odds of obesity by 9 per cent, while two glasses a day raised it by a whopping 22 per cent.
So, what makes wine so counter-intuitive from a diet-perspective?
Well, there are a few reasons:
- Calories – There are approximately seven calories in every gram of pure alcohol, and those add up on a night out (or in)!
- Sugar – All alcoholic drinks also include sugar, which can easily take you well over your recommended daily intake.
- Tricks your brain – Quite a lot of research suggests alcohol disrupts your body’s perception of hunger and satiety, making you much more likely to reach for another bag of chips.
- Slows fat burning – Research also shows alcohol suppresses fat oxidation which makes it harder for your body to reduce fat. Dietician Dr Duane Mellor says, “As a result of complex metabolic pathways, it inhibits the breakdown of fat. This means alcohol can reduce the amount of fat your body burns for energy.”
So that well-deserved drink after your workout might actually be a matter of one step forward, two steps back.
