Alcohol and body weight

Alcohol intake contributes to energy balance. Chronic and moderate alcohol consumption (i. e. 20-40 g/day) plus a high fat intake (i. e. > 40% of ener gy intake) fat-or a positive energy balance and thus weight gain. By contra st a high alcohol intake (i. e. > 20% of energy intake) may lead to malnutr ition depending on the concomitant nutrient intake. It is evident that alco hol cannot be considered as an empty calorie. En Energy wasting mechanisms, which have been proposed by some authors, are unlikely to contribute to en ergy balance in healthy subjects. Our present knowledge on the energetic value of alcohol mainly depend on ph ysiologic data based on the measurements of energy and substrate balances. By contrast epidemiologic data on the effect of alcohol intake on body weig ht are contradictory. This is explained by the limitations of epidemiologic al studies as well as by the possible contributions of other life style-rel ated factors. It is evident that many studies on the effect of alcohol on body weight are uncontrolled studies. It is surprising that although 100 years of research have gone in this area we still have no definite answer to the question.