And the weight gain from alcohol appears to affect the mid-rift more than the rest of the body. This is important because belly fat is a bad health indicator compared to fat elsewhere in the body. Many wonder if saying goodbye to alcohol will get rid of belly fat or the common beer belly. Alcohol, particularly in excess, contributes to the accumulation of belly fat. (9) This is because the liver prioritizes processing alcohol over burning fat, leading to the storage of excess calories as fat, often around the abdominal area.

Weight Gain After Drinking Alcohol: 7 Possible Reasons

Of course, the alcohol content of the drink matters too in all of these. Like I said before, it’s not a given that you will gain weight just because you drink especially if you are a casual drinker. In that study, folks who were already obese, episodic binge drinking had a 35% chance of staying obese. This longitudinal study  looked at 7,941 participants who engaged in episodic heavy drinking in adolescence and the findings were quite astonishing. The research also appears to show that men are more likely to gain weight from alcohol compared to women.

Alcohol and Weight Gain: How Drinking Affects Metabolism, Hunger, Bloating, and More

That being said, there are several things we do know about alcohol and body weight, and how drinking too much can lead to weight gain. We all know that what we eat plays a huge role in our weight, but what about the things we drink? While a boozy beverage may seem like it doesn’t do much to affect your body weight, the energy in liquid calories can very quickly add up. If the amount of alcohol you drink puts you in a caloric deficit, where your body burns more calories than consumed, you will technically still lose weight.

Will Quitting Alcohol Get Rid of Belly Fat?

What is the best way to replenish energy reserves in the body? This is why you enthusiastically shove cold slices of pizza in your face the day after drinking. If cortisol triggers our fight or flight response, it is logical to cue the body to stock up on the energy we get by eating. Cortisol plays an important role in helping to regulate blood sugar and fight inflammation in the body. Cortisol is the stress hormone in your body responsible for the “fight or flight” response. But not until your body is done with the alcohol and if you’re a heavy drinker, well, your body has only so much metabolic bandwidth.

• We all know that what we eat plays a huge role in our weight, but what about the things we drink?
• We store that information and use it to shape our service offer to you – such as the advice we give or the extra services we connect you to.
• The results exhibit how alcohol can activate hunger signals in the brain, increasing the urge to eat.
• Many people find sugary and fatty foods comforting and look for the dopamine boost it brings them, just as alcohol once did.
• If heavy drinking occurs too often, you may therefore find yourself developing unhealthy eating habits.
• By working in these strategies, you can still enjoy alcohol in moderation while working toward your weight loss goals.

However, moderate drinking can offer some benefits, such as improved insulin sensitivity and enhanced metabolic function. By choosing low-calorie options, tracking consumption, and staying hydrated, you can enjoy alcohol responsibly while managing your weight. Being mindful of the calories in your drinks can help you manage your weight. Ethanol has roughly 7 calories per gram, so tracking your alcohol consumption helps you stay within your daily calorie needs.

This shift means that the calories from the food you eat are more likely to be stored as fat, particularly if alcohol is paired with calorie-dense meals or snacks. Light beers contain roughly 95 kcal per 330ml bottle, offering a lower alcohol and carbohydrate content than regular varieties. They’re ideal for long social occasions or casual gatherings when you prefer to pace yourself. Choose “session” or light lagers for the most balanced flavor-to-calorie ratio. Drinking on an empty stomach leads to faster alcohol absorption and stronger hunger cues later.

The important role sleep can play in your weight loss journey

At Granite Mountain Behavioral Health in Arizona, we assist those struggling with alcohol use disorder by providing access to comprehensive treatment. Digestive secretions are an essential element of healthy digestion. They break down food into the basic macro- and micronutrients that are absorbed and used by the body. Research suggests that alcohol can lead to increased periods of wakefulness during sleep cycles. However, the effects of alcohol surpass even social drinking etiquette.

How to Drink Less and Still Have Fun

• Over time, regular alcohol intake not only raises the risk of insulin resistance but also contributes to weight gain.
• The most obvious might be carbonated drinks, such as beer or soda.
• Slurred speech and impaired judgment are common effects of alcohol intoxication.
• But, as the night progresses, your sleep quality deteriorates.
• Apparently, if you want defined muscles, a drop in your BFP, or to whittle your waist, spirits and bubbles are off the table.

Whether it results in respiratory failure from alcohol poisoning or an unintentional car accident. It doesn’t stop there, alcohol can also affect a person’s pancreas, which supports healthy digestion. Consuming foods and drinks high in sugar can quickly lead to weight gain. When you are drunk, it becomes hard to decide what food is healthy for you. You have a tough time inhibiting yourself from making poor decisions, especially when it comes to selecting the right food. So you end up craving unhealthy food, which can lead to weight gain.

How To Avoid Gaining Weight The Day After Drinking

• This might seem counterintuitive, but your body compensates for losing water by retaining water wherever it can.
• The reason behind that is; alcohol use makes us overeat in the short term because alcohol enhances the feeling of reward we get from eating.
• This can greatly affect the metabolism of organs that play a role in weight management.

This excess gas could lead to bloating in the stomach and belching (burping). Beer is carbonated, so it can lead to excess gas in the stomach and bloating. Mixing alcoholic drinks with carbonated beverages (soda or seltzer) could also result in excess gas. As a result of their findings, the researchers concluded that heavy drinking should be part of the discussion when it comes to talking about healthy eating and weight loss. I’d also recommend building a regular workout routine, along with drinking plenty of water and getting a good amount of sleep each night. Tools such as weight loss supplements can be useful as part of a balanced lifestyle too, but shouldn’t be solely relied on for minimizing weight gain.

Which means some people are genetically protected and other aren’t. 36% of the participants who were overweight at the beginning of the study became obese at the conclusion of the study. If anything, hangover in later years gets worse largely because your body now finds it harder to process the alcohol compared to years gone by. If that beer, whisky, gin or wine is contributing heroin addiction to the bulge in your waistline, then you may want to reconsider.