Association between alcohol consumption and overweight in adults: brief notes on biological plausibility

Abstract

Authors debate that alcohol would be a food, providing calories to those who consume it. And when this consumption is exacerbated, there is a risk of weight gain. When assessing the risk factors for being overweight, especially in the consumption of alcoholic beverages, studies have shown positive, negative, and null associations. In this text, we sought to discuss the evidence of the association between alcohol consumption and overweight in adults. From the analysis, the studies observed the effect of alcohol on both metabolic pathways and the modulation of neurotransmitters that regulate appetite and hunger. The literature has pointed out that light to moderate consumption would not be a risk factor for being overweight, but only excessive consumption would be related. Authors emphasize that people who consume alcohol in a mild to moderate way have better lifestyle habits involving physical exercise and healthier food intake. Thus, they could present better protection against weight gain. Because obesity and overweight are multifactorial diseases, it is difficult to investigate the independent influence of alcohol consumption on the risk of these diseases. It reinforces the importance of studies that analyze and advance in the understanding of the relationship between alcohol consumption and overweight, especially by evaluating the total volume consumed, consumption patterns, and types of drinks so that the results support the creation of strategies for health promotion, prevention and control of these diseases among the population.