Alcohol and weight loss: what’s the connection?

Embarking on a weight loss journey? Let's talk about that friend who shows up at every party - alcohol. Beyond the good times, it can seriously mess with your progress by affecting your metabolism, decision-making, and sleep patterns. Alcohol has been associated with increased calorie intake and, in the case of binge drinking, an increased risk of obesity. Here’s what to know about the link between alcohol and weight loss.

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The short answer is yes. Alcohol can make you more likely to gain weight.

People often drink alcohol while eating a meal or bar snacks. Because alcohol impacts decision making (more on this later), you may end up eating more than you normally would and consuming more calories overall, especially when compared to drinking water with your meal. Alcoholic drinks are more likely to be high in sugar and empty calories (calories that don’t offer much in the way of nutrients). Alcohol also affects your digestive system, disrupting your metabolism and tricking your brain into thinking you’re hungrier than you really are.

A study of moderate drinkers found that biological men tend to consume an extra 168 calories when they drink. While the researcher didn’t observe a similar effect in biological women, they did find that all participants consumed more fats and made poorer food choices on the days that they drank alcohol.

The relationship between alcohol and weight is complex, but there is a link between alcohol and overeating. Alcohol is also considered a risk factor for obesity, but not necessarily for all individuals. For some people, low to moderate alcohol consumption may not lead to weight gain. 

Here are some factors that help explain the effects of alcohol on weight loss.

1. Alcohol has a lot of calories

Alcohol, especially craft beers and cocktails with multiple ingredients, has a high sugar content. Sugar contains a lot of calories, and those extra calories may turn into fat.

One study measured the calorie counts of biological men and women on their heaviest drinking day of the week. Calories from alcohol made up 27% and 19%, respectively, of their recommended daily caloric intake.

2. Fat from alcohol gathers around the belly

Unfortunately, “beer belly” is not just a myth or a synonym for “dad bod.” Foods and drinks that contain high amounts of simple sugars, like sugary drinks and candy, add extra calories to your diet that are stored as fat. As much as we wish we could, we can’t control where our fat ends up. And often, fat accumulates around the belly.

What people call “belly fat” typically refers to two types of abdominal fat. The first is subcutaneous fat, located just under your skin. Below that you’ll find visceral fat that protects and warms your organs around your midsection. Having too much visceral fat can be bad for your health. 

3. Alcohol affects your judgment

Alcohol affects your decision-making and lowers your inhibitions. So when you drink, you may find yourself saying yes to eating more than you normally would or and eating more foods that are high in fat like pizza or a late-night Taco Bell run. 

Overeating while drinking may stem from alcohol’s effects on the brain. In one study, researchers gave mice ethanol (alcohol) over three days. All of the mice significantly increased their food intake.

4. Alcohol slows your metabolism

Not only does alcohol make you want to eat more, but it also disrupts your body’s digestion. Alcohol can make it harder for your stomach and intestines to function normally. So, your body may have a harder time moving food through your digestive tract and breaking it down into the nutrients you need.

Chronic overdrinking for years can cause you to develop alcoholic liver disease, which affects how your liver metabolizes and stores proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. As a result, losing weight may become more difficult the longer you keep up unhealthy drinking habits.

5. Alcohol affects your hormone levels

Alcohol may lower your sex hormone levels, including testosterone. Testosterone plays a key role in the process of metabolism and your body’s ability to burn fat. Low testosterone levels may increase your risk of metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions that raise your cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar levels), and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome, in turn, increases your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Finally, although we often think of alcohol as a sedative (because it is), it also impacts your quality of sleep. Lower sleep quality causes sleep deprivation, affecting many bodily functions, including hormone production. Poor quality sleep can wreak havoc on the hormones that regulate your appetite. In particular, sleep deprivation raises levels of ghrelin, the hormone that alerts you when you’re hungry, and lowers levels of leptin, the hormone that tells you you’re full.

If you’re not ready to say goodbye to alcohol, there are several lower-calorie liquor options. For example, a 1.5-oz shot of vodka, whiskey, gin, rum, tequila, or brandy only contains 100 calories. If you’re a wine drinker, a 5-oz glass of red wine contains 125 calories, while white wine contains 120. A 4-oz flute of champagne contains 85 calories. 

When it comes to beer, the lighter the beer, the better. A 12-oz glass of regular beer contains 145 calories, while craft beer packs 170 calories or more. Light beer, on the other hand, usually only has about 105 calories.

Here are some more tips for preventing weight gain from alcoholic beverages:

• Avoid frozen drinks and mixed cocktails. Extra ingredients typically spell extra calories. A 9-oz piña colada contains 490 calories, while a 4-oz margarita contains 170 calories. 

• Watch out for sweeteners. Instead of a mixed drink, opt for a shot on the rocks. For mixers, try club soda or sparkling water. You can also add fruit to sweeten things, like tequila with lime or olives with gin. 

• Practice other ways to manage your alcohol consumption. Sip slowly and alternate with water. Practice portion control by using a smaller glass. 

In general, drinking less is better than drinking more—for your weight loss goals and overall health. However, if you like to have a drink once in a while, that’s okay. Drink alcohol in moderation, swap the super-sugary cocktail for a shot on the rocks, a light beer, or a glass of wine, and speak to your healthcare provider to make sure alcohol consumption is safe for you.

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Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

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Current version

August 18, 2023

Written by

Amelia Willson

Fact checked by

Felix Gussone, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Felix Gussone, MD, Ro

Felix Gussone is a physician, health journalist and a Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.