So Thats Where A Beer Belly Comes From!

[cojones]

Sunday, 28 November, 2004, 01:40 GMT

Drink binges 'cause beer belly'

The man on the left could lose his beer belly and still drink

(photo of fat bloke )

Binge drinkers are more likely to develop a beer belly than people who consume the same amount but spread their intake out, experts suggest.

Researchers believe that boozers who consume large amounts in one or two sittings tend to be more apple-shaped.

However, they say those who drink the same amount over the course of a week are less likely to be affected.

The Centre for Alcohol Research in Denmark suggests binge drinkers are more prone to serious ill health.

Research details were revealed to the Portman Group, the drinks industry-funded body which promotes responsible drinking.

'Apple-shaped'

Professor Morton Gronbeck, from the Copenhagen-based research centre, said: "We have some indication that people who are binge-drinking are more frequently apple-shaped.

If you have a high alcohol intake you should never binge-drink

Professor Morton Gronbeck

"They tend to be abdominally obese, but drinking the same amount of alcohol spread out over the week would not give you an apple shape."

Professor Gronbeck said people with an apple figure are at higher risk of developing conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Past research carried out by Prof Gronbeck and colleagues among 57,000 people has highlighted the danger of binge drinking.

It has also suggested that moderate drinking can have a protective effect against cardiovascular disease.

But Professor Gronbeck said: "It seems that the greatest beneficial effect on coronary heart disease is only if you have a regular, small alcohol intake.

"If you have a high alcohol intake you should never binge drink, you should never drink more than four to five drinks a day."

'Beneficial' alcohol

He said around one or two units of alcohol a day, on five days a week, may have a beneficial effect on coronary heart disease.

But the risk of dying from all alcohol-related causes doubled if you had 10 drinks on two nights a week rather than drinking around two units a day, he added.

Even then, the beneficial effect only appeared to apply to the over-40s.

In the UK, women are advised not to drink more than two to three units of alcohol a day, and men three to four units.

Recent government figures revealed that a fifth of men and one in 11 women were now binge-drinkers in England.

For men this means drinking more than eight units of alcohol on at least one day in the week, and for women more than six units.

[Dickie]

So if a bloke drinks four pints of beer (8 units) Friday night he's a binge drinker? What a load of crap.

What's Friday night like in Septicland? Any Sep care to comment?

[cdnvic]

So if a bloke drinks four pints of beer (8 units) Friday night he's a binge drinker? What a load of crap.

What's Friday night like in Septicland? Any Sep care to comment?

My wife objected to the slow interveinous drip..... this'll show 'er

cv

[TRIPxCORE]

Its not a beer belly. It's a gas tank for my love machine.

[a man with a plan]

It's like some sort of asset - think about how much money you put into it.

[jayenram]

It has also suggested that moderate drinking can have a protective effect against cardiovascular disease.

................................

Even then, the beneficial effect only appeared to apply to the over-40s.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I feel far better after reading this. I think I'll celebrate with a few *changs*.

[Thetyim]

Let me think about this..........a unit of alcohol...........

Champagne comes in a magnum

beer in a barrel

whisky in a vat

and I am over 40 years..............yes I agree with this report

[kreon]

sorry professor.....lets do the math ......... 18 heinekens over 3 sessions per week = 54/7 = 7.71 per night!

but my gf likes my budda tummy!

i rather sweath(read shag) it of over my daily sessions!

so you are happy with that

[Abandon]

Funny, I read (new scientist I think) that 'latest research' shows that beer bellies have nothing to do with alcahol.

You should take these articles with a pinch of salt mate.

And a tinny too of course.

[igotworms]

Funny, I read (new scientist I think) that 'latest research' shows that beer bellies have nothing to do with alcahol.

You should take these articles with a pinch of salt mate.

And a tinny too of course.

I agree...

Excessive sugar intake, fatty foods, lack of exercise, genetic tendencies as well beer all contribute to the beer belly.

[Gazza]

The wife is always commenting on my 'beer belly' as she calls it. I have to keep telling her that it's pure stomache muscle.

I'll even ripple my muscles by jumping up and down to demonstrate how fortunate I am to have such a fine physique.

[autonomous_unit]

It's not the alcohol, so much as all the other carbohydrates that weren't coverted by the yeast in beer or wine that leads to the general blubber. I always try to remember that just like medieval mongs, I am drinking a glass of bread.

What is disturbing, however, is that a weekend binge can cause gross fat content changes to your liver, which actually is due largely to the way your body converts alcohol into carbs (but don't expect me to remember where I read that). Drinking the same amount spread over a week apparently does not accumulate such changes to the liver, meaning the short-term consumption rate does affect you as well as the longer-term average consumption.

Btw, as unpleasant as it is, these sorts of studies can mean that 8 pints in one night is a binge from a health standpoint, even if it doesn't seem that way compared to some social norms. Dismissing it is about as sensible as dismissing that cigarettes are carcinogenic because everybody's doing it.

[Dickie]

Drinking the same amount spread over a week apparently does not accumulate such changes to the liver, meaning the short-term consumption rate does affect you as well as the longer-term average consumption.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting as my doctor told me that's it's better for you to consume your weekly intake in a short sharp session, then allow your liver to recover during the rest of the week, than to deliver the blow spread out across the seven days.

[Rigger]

So whats the best way to get rid of a beer belly with out changing your drinking habbits if possible not that I have a real problem yet but I have put on 10kg in the last 2 years living in Isaan

[autonomous_unit]

So whats the best way to get rid of a beer belly with out changing your drinking habbits if possible not that I have a real problem yet but I have put on 10kg in the last 2 years living in Isaan

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Basically, drinking is just another form of high-calorie food intake.

So it's the same way as getting rid of love handles without changing your eating habits: exercise so there are more calories going out than coming in! I know, easier said than done...