INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION AND VARIOUS BEVERAGES ON WAIST GIRTHAND WAIST-TO-HIP RATIO IN A SAMPLE OF FRENCH MEN AND WOMEN

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to assess the association between alcohol consumption and abdominal fat deposition in France, a country where wine is the most commonly consumed alcoholic beverage. METHODS: We analyzed the association between alcohol consumption and v arious markers of body weight, in a population sample recruited in thr ee distinct geographical areas of France (MONICA centers). This sample included men (n = 1778) and women (n = 1730) aged 35 - 64 y, randomly selected from electoral rolls. Alcohol consumption was assessed with a quantitative frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Alcohol intake ranged from 0-1655 ml of alcohol per week. Wine was the main source of alcoh ol, representing 67% of total alcohol intake in both genders. In men, there was no association between alcohol intake and body mass index (B MI) or body weight, whereas in women, alcohol consumption was inversel y correlated with BMI (P<0.0001) and body weight (P<0.0002). In men, t otal alcohol consumption was positively associated with waist-to-hip r atio (WHR, P < 0.0002) and waist girth (P < 0.004), independently of B MI. Similarly, in women, positive associations were found between alco hol intake and WHR (P < 0.0001) as well as waist girth (P < 0.0001), i ndependently of BMI. In a linear regression model including types of b everages and usual confounders, reporting consumption of either wine, beer or spirit was poorly associated with WHR in men, whereas wine (P < 0.0008) and beer (P ( 0.0001) consumptions were both positively asso ciated with WHR in women. However, there was no evidence of a statisti cally significant heterogeneous effect of wine, beer and spirits on WH R in both genders. CONCLUSION: In a sample of representative French pe ople, in whom wine is the most common alcoholic beverage, alcohol cons umption is associated with greater WHR independently of BMI in both me n and women.