Estudios científicos

Alcohol consumption, weight gain, and risk of becoming overweight in middle-aged and older women

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The obesity epidemic is a major health problem in the United States. Alcohol consumption is a source of energy intake that may contribute to body weight gain and development of obesity. However, previous studies of this relationship have been limited, with inconsistent results. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study among 19 220 US women aged 38.9 years or older who were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes mellitus and had a baseline body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) within the normal range of 18.5 to less than 25. Alcoholic beverage consumption was reported on a baseline questionnaire. Body weight was self-reported on baseline and 8 annual follow-up questionnaires. RESULTS: There was an inverse association between amount of alcohol consumed at baseline and weight gained during 12.9 years of follow-up. A total of 7942 (41.3%) initially normal-weight women became overweight or obese (BMI > or =25) and 732 (3.8%) became obese (BMI > or =30). After adjusting for age, baseline BMI, smoking status, nonalcohol energy intake, physical activity level, and other lifestyle and dietary factors, the relative risks of becoming overweight or obese across total alcohol intake of 0, more than 0 to less than 5, 5 to less than 15, 15 to less than 30, and 30 g/d or more were 1.00, 0.96, 0.86, 0.70, and 0.73, respectively (P( )for trend( )<.001). The corresponding relative risks of becoming obese were 1.00, 0.75, 0.43, 0.39, and 0.29 (P( )for trend( )<.001). The associations were similar by subgroups of age, smoking status, physical activity level, and baseline BMI. CONCLUSION: Compared with nondrinkers, initially normal-weight women who consumed a light to moderate amount of alcohol gained less weight and had a lower risk of becoming overweight and/or obese during 12.9 years of follow-up.

Comentarios divulgativos:

La epidemia de la obesidad es un problema de salud principal en el mundo industrializado. El alcohol contiene la energía y así como se considera, contribuye a la ganancia de peso del cuerpo y el desarrollo de obesidad. Sin embargo, estudios científicos sobre este asunto han mostrado resultados contrarios.
En la escuela de salud pública de Harvard recientemente se realizó un estudio de cohorte anticipado entre 19220 mujeres estadounidenses de edad de 39 años o mayores que eran libres de enfermedad cardiovascular, cáncer y diabetes Mellitus y tenía un índice de masa de cuerpo de línea de fondo (BMI) dentro de la gama normal de 18.5 a menos de 25. Durante casi 13 años de seguimiento, el 41,3% llegaron a tener sobrepeso y el 3,8% llegó a ser obesa
Los resultados muestran que un consumo moderado de bebida no es sólo bueno para el corazón, es también beneficioso para el peso de la mujer. Los investigadores encontraron que las mujeres que bebieron moderadamente (haciendo un promedio de 15 gramos de alcohol por día o menos) con el tiempo ganan menos peso y con menor probabilidad comparando con no bebedores.
Los beneficios para la salud eran evidentes entre todos los tipos de bebida, pero los bebedores de vino parecen tener una ventaja leve. El estudio era también el primero en examinar la unión entre el consumo por un individuo de peso normal y el riesgo de hacerse demasiado pesado. No proporciona ninguna prueba que alumbra que un consumo moderado de bebida conduce a aumentos de peso para las mujeres que son al principio de tamaño de cuerpo normal. Los mecanismos para tal efecto permanecen confusos.