To your health

Few people are unaware of the phenomenon of the “beer belly” in men, the consequence of too many evenings spent enjoying company in the pub. But a large waistline, traditionally thought of as an almost exclusively male characteristic, is becoming more frequent in women too. When a man gains weight, the body tends to store that weight in and around his abdominal organs, to make what we call “abdominal obesity” or the “apple shape”. Women, traditionally thought of as “pear-shaped” gather weight first around their hips and buttocks, retaining a relatively thin waist. Increasingly however, as the nation’s body shape becomes heavier, many women are now gaining central fatness too. It would be a mistake therefore to think that only lovers of a few drinks in the evening were prone to a bulging waistline. Calories, from whatever source, alcohol or otherwise, if consumed in excess, turn to fat, and make us vulnerable to the dangers associated with central, or abdominal obesity.

For many people starting out on a diet, becoming aware of the calorific content of alcoholic drinks can be a real eye-opener. One or two drinks a day, 5 days of the week, might fit within recommended healthy limits, but they will still contribute to our energy balance equation. In attempting to decrease un-necessary calorie intake, reducing your alcohol intake at the same time as regaining portion control can be an easy way to cut back.

A large glass of your favourite chardonnay might have between 150 and 200 calories, depending on how generous you are to yourself. A pint of the landlord’s best ale might have between 160 and 180. So you can see how over the course of a week it all adds up. My patients have told me of some ingenious ways to cut back. Have a large glass of water before going out, don’t go out thirsty. Buy the first round, be generous, and then limit yourself to a half pint from friends and top up your pint glass. If you enjoy wine, ask for a soda spritzer, make it last longer. If spirits are your thing, keep them to single measures, and mix with diet-mixers. And diet soft drinks in between alcoholic drinks always helps. Life is to there to be enjoyed, and supportive friends are important. Be sociable, get out, spend time with your friends, and still lose weight.

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