Beer Belly Myth (drink up!)

BBC ^ | October 12, 2003

[RWR8189]

There is no such thing as a "beer belly", according to scientists. Researchers in Britain and the Czech Republic surveyed almost 2,000 Czechs, who are generally regarded as the world's biggest beer drinkers.

They found no link between the amount of beer they drink and the size of their stomachs.

Writing in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, they said claims people are obese because they drink too much beer are wrong.

Beer drinkers

Dr Martin Bobak from University College London and colleagues at the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague questioned 891 Czech men and 1,098 women between the ages of 25 and 64 as part of their study.

The Czechs traditionally top world league tables on beer drinking, consuming more beer per person than people in any other country.

All of those questioned as part of the study were selected at random and drank either no alcohol at all or only beer.

The association between beer and obesity if it exists is probably weak

Researchers The survey showed the men consumed on average 3.1 litres of beer each week with women drinking on average 0.3 litres per week.

There were few heavy drinkers. Just 3% of men drank more than 14 litres of beer in a week and just five women regularly consumed more than 7 litres in a week.

All of those questioned also underwent a short medical examination.

Doctors measured their weight and their waist to hip ratio and body mass index, both used to measure obesity.

The scientists found no link between beer consumption and obesity.

They said the findings suggested there is no truth in the claim that drinking too much beer makes people obese.

"There is a common notion that beer drinkers are, on average, more 'obese' than either non-drinkers or drinkers of wine or spirits," the researchers said.

"This is reflected, for example, by the expression 'beer belly'.

"If this is so, then beer intake should be associated with some general measure of obesity, such as body mass index or with indices of fat distribution such as waist to hip ratio or with both."

But they said: "The association between beer and obesity if it exists is probably weak."

A study published earlier this year suggested some people are genetically predisposed to develop beer bellies.

Italian researchers said men with a certain gene variation have a tendency to get a flabby stomach.

Nigel Denby, of the British Dietetic Association, urged beer lovers not to seize on the study's findings to run down to their local pub.

"People shouldn't assume that they can now drink freely," he told BBC News Online. "Any food taken in excess can lead to obesity.

"Drinking any type of alcohol can also lead to obesity.

"People who want to drink should enjoy alcohol but they should only drink in moderation."

[budwiesest]

Bumper Snicker: "Great beer bellies aren't born, they're made!"

[Support Free Republic]

"Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our
wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions,
they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
- John Adams -

Make your statement.

[Michael Barnes]

I saw a shirt that said:

"This isn't a beer belly, it's a fuel tank for a love machine"

[elmer fudd]

If the average amount of beer consumed by the beer drinkers was indeed 3.1 liters per week then it is no wonder that they did not find a link. That's less than a pint a day.

There's no rocket science involved here. If you consume more calories than you burn off you get fat. Beer has a lot of calories and men tend to store their fat in their abdomen, hence if you drink a lot of beer you are likely to develop a "beer belly". You could accomplish the same thing eating jelly doughnuts or potato chips.

[Libertina]

ROTFLOL

[budwiesest]

LOL! Have you seen the one about battered women?

[Bullish]

There were few heavy drinkers. Just 3% of men drank more than 14 litres of beer in a week and just five women regularly consumed more than 7 litres in a week.

Geez! Only 14 litres a week?

What lightweights!

[SAJ]

You're only asking about beer-battered women, I trust? :^)

[weegee]

Okay to drink muh beer PING.

[truth_seeker]

The Czech's have the right to drink a lotta beer, becuz they make one of (if not the) best beers in the world.

Urquel Pilz, frequently voted best in competitions. I used to really enjoy "beer sampling " parties. (I'm retired now)

Another world class brew: Newcastle Brown.

[Thebaddog]

Sierra Nevada in the dapper green bottle is my favorite to date.

[FreeReporting]

Beer energy content is about 40 calories to 100 gram; about the same as skimmed milk; whereas full cream milk is 66 calories to 100 gram

[Thunder 6]

Staropramen was/is my favorite Czech beer...
regards,

[LTCJ]

Beer energy content is about 40 calories

From what I understand, it's not the calories - it's that maltose has about the highest glycemic index going. It's about the most "efficient" way of getting sugar directly into the blood stream.

[LTCJ]

FWIW, whole milk has about 50% more calories that beer but beer has a glycemic index about 350% higher than whole milk.

[GWB00]

Ia this like the false CNN Health online article yesterday about fellatio can prevent breast cancer?

[Bob Buchholz]

Different shirt:

"This isn't a beer belly, it's a tool shed"

[Uncle Miltie]

It's not the beer, it's the chips!

[Steve0113]

Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms...Who's bringing the Chips?

I have a T-shirt with that on it. Bought a couple of them at a gun show. Unfortunately, many people don't get it.

[budwiesest]

beer-battered women, I trust? :^)

OOh!, so close. It went something like this:

Battered women? And all this time I've been e*ting them plain".

[in the Arena]

http://www.studio15direct.com/bbcintro.htm

[shaggy eel]

BURP

[CheneyChick]

Whoa, where did her butt go?

[CheneyChick]

[ErnBatavia]

If the average amount of beer consumed by the beer drinkers was indeed 3.1 liters per week then it is no wonder that they did not find a link. That's less than a pint a day.

I think a liter's more like a quart, isn't it?

[Squantos]

Stay Safe !

[Squantos]

Somebodys gonna lose an eye if those suspenders fail !

[discostu]

According to the handy pocket reference 1 liter is 2.11 US liquid pints or 1.05 US liquid quarts. That's a pretty heavy level of sustained beer action.

[Cboldt]

3 liters a week is heavy beer action? That explains it (my flailing memory, that is)

[Cboldt]

"Battered women? And all this time I've been e*ting them plain".

OMG ... best one I've heard in years. Shltered life here in the sticks, I suppose.

[humblegunner]

Mmmmmmmm... beer!

[discostu]

I junked the math in my head, forgot we were dealing with 1/2 a liter a day not whole liter a day. Half a liter a day isn't bad, a whole liter a day of just about anything is a bit much.

[in the Arena]

I think her stomach ate it.

[in the Arena]

:O)

[Allegra]

Mmmmmmmm... beer!

And of course, none of use ever drinks more than three litres a week.

Heaven forbid.