Britt Jones
Having a tipple every now and then is something many people do, but when it becomes a daily occurrence, that one beer or glass of red can really add up.
Whether you like red, white, or rose, wine in moderation isn’t something people tend to think of as being unhealthy.
Especially when it comes to red wine being rich in antioxidants. However, that doesn’t mean it’s totally healthy, and the same can be said for beer.
While science has long debated the health benefits and risks of alcohol in general, it’s widely known to be something we should all limit, for fear of increasing our risk of things like heart disease, liver problems, and more.
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But according to a recent study, the impact is a lot deeper than once thought.
A study published in the International Journal of Obesity, found that weekly alcohol consumption is linked to increased visceral fat mass (VFM).
Visceral fat is the kind that is harder to shift, as it builds up around your organs.
This is because alcohol is packed full of calories, and carcinogens.
When it comes to VFM, this presents an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic issues.
The Oxford Biobank study analyzed 5,761 men and women between the ages of 25-75, who were then asked about their alcohol consumption.
Once split into groups based on gender and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to calculate total fat mass and VFM, it whittled down the amount of people in the final sample as being 42.8 per cent men and 57.2 per cent women.
When it came to the drinkers, the men reported drinking between one to four units per week, to 17-98 units per week.
However, women reported between 10 to 50 units in any given week.
According to the VFM impact, those who drank more had more of this fat.
In men, the fat was 10.7 per cent higher in those who drank the most alcohol, and for women, it was around 17.1 per cent.
But it's important to note that the study didn't take into account diets, beverage type, or long-term outcomes.
Although, it's well known that excess alcohol consumption could lead to some weight gain, which is where the term 'beer belly' came from.
However, what you may not have known is that having more visceral fat can cause the heart to age prematurely.
According to the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences and Imperial College London, fat around the abdomen is bad news for heart health.
But shockingly, fat located in the hips and thighs of women could be heart-healthy.
I don't know about you, but I don't know how to personalize my fat location.