Journal Article

Relationship of abdominal obesity with alcohol consumption at population scale

Barral, Diego, Mándoli, Eduardo Soler, Álvarez, Marisol Domínguez, Schröder, Helmut, Marrugat, Jaume, Morales-Molina, Jose Antonio, de Jaime Gil, Elisabet, Bermejo, Silvia, Grau, María, Guxens, Monica

2007

Overview

Background The high energy content of alcohol makes its consumption a potential contributor to the obesity epidemic. Aim of the study To determine whether alcohol consumption is a risk factor for abdominal obesity, taking into account energy underreporting. Methods The subjects were Spanish men (n = 1491) and women (n = 1563) aged 25-74 years who were examined in 1999-2000, in a population-based cross-sectional survey in northeastern Spain (Girona). Dietary intake, including alcohol consumption, was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric variables were measured. Results The mean consumption of alcohol was 18.1 ± 20.7 g/d in men and 5.3 ± 10.4 g/d in women. 19.3% of men and 2.3% of women reported alcohol consumption of more than 3 drinks per day. The consumption of alcohol was directly associated with total energy intake in men (P < 0.001) and women (P = 0.001). The proportion of energy underreporting significantly (P < 0.001) decreased with higher amounts of alcohol drinking in both genders. Multiple logistic regression analysis, controlled for energy underreporting, smoking, educational level, leisure-time physical activity, energy, and diet quality, revealed that consuming more than 3 drinks of alcohol (>30 g ethanol) was significantly associated with the risk of abdominal obesity (Odds ratio 1.80; 1.05, 3.09) and exceeding recommended energy consumption (Odds ratio 1.97; 1.32, 2.93) in men. A very small number (2.13%) of women in this population reported high levels of alcohol consumption. Conclusions Alcohol consumption in elevated amounts was associated with risk of abdominal obesity in men, independent of energy underreporting.

• Publisher: Dordrecht : D. Steinkopff-Verlag,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Abdominal Fat / Abdominal Fat - drug effects / Abdominal Fat - metabolism / Adult / adverse effects / Aged / alcohol drinking / Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects / alcoholic beverages / Anthropometry / beverages / Biological and medical sciences / Confidence Intervals / Cross-Sectional Studies / drug effects / Educational Status / energy content / energy intake / Energy Intake - physiology / energy underreporting / epidemiology / ethanol / etiology / Feeding. Feeding behavior / Female / food frequency questionnaires / food intake / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / Humans / Leisure Activities / Male / Medical sciences / men / Metabolic diseases / metabolism / Middle Aged / nutritional adequacy / Obesity / Obesity - epidemiology / Obesity - etiology / Odds Ratio / physical activity / physiology / regression analysis / Risk Assessment / Risk Factors / Self Disclosure / Smoking / Spain / Spain - epidemiology / Surveys and Questionnaires / Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems / waist / women