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Relationship of abdominal obesity with alcohol consumption at population scale

European Journal of Nutrition volume 46, pages 369–376 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

The high energy content of alcohol makes its consumption a potential contributor to the obesity epidemic.

Aim of the study

To determine whether alcohol consumption is a risk factor for abdominal obesity, taking into account energy underreporting.

Methods

The subjects were Spanish men (n = 1491) and women (n = 1563) aged 25–74 years who were examined in 1999–2000, in a population-based cross-sectional survey in northeastern Spain (Girona). Dietary intake, including alcohol consumption, was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric variables were measured.

Results

The mean consumption of alcohol was 18.1 ± 20.7 g/d in men and 5.3 ± 10.4 g/d in women. 19.3% of men and 2.3% of women reported alcohol consumption of more than 3 drinks per day. The consumption of alcohol was directly associated with total energy intake in men (P < 0.001) and women (P = 0.001). The proportion of energy underreporting significantly (P < 0.001) decreased with higher amounts of alcohol drinking in both genders. Multiple logistic regression analysis, controlled for energy underreporting, smoking, educational level, leisure-time physical activity, energy, and diet quality, revealed that consuming more than 3 drinks of alcohol (>30 g ethanol) was significantly associated with the risk of abdominal obesity (Odds ratio 1.80; 1.05, 3.09) and exceeding recommended energy consumption (Odds ratio 1.97; 1.32, 2.93) in men. A very small number (2.13%) of women in this population reported high levels of alcohol consumption.

Conclusions

Alcohol consumption in elevated amounts was associated with risk of abdominal obesity in men, independent of energy underreporting.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the English revision made by Dr. Elaine M. Lilly (Writers First Aid).

This research was supported by grant 2FD097-0297-CO2-01 from Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) and by parts of the Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Red HERACLES RD06/0009, CIBER: Epidemiología y salud pública CB06/02/0029, CIBER: Fisiopatología de la obesidad y nutrición CB06/03/0028, Fondo de Invesigación Sanitaria ISCIII CP 03/00115.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lipids and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit, Institut Municipal d’Investigació Mèdica, IMIM, Hospital de Mar, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB), c/Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

    Helmut Schröder, Monica Guxens & Jaume Marrugat

  2. Dept. of Pharmacy, IMIM-Hospital de Mar, Barcelona, Spain

    Jose Antonio Morales-Molina

  3. Dept. of Anesthesiology, IMIM-Hospital de Mar, Barcelona, Spain

    Silvia Bermejo & Eduardo Soler Mándoli

  4. Pharmacology Research Unit, IMIM-Hospital de Mar, Barcelona, Spain

    Diego Barral

  5. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Diego Barral & María Grau

  6. Preventive Medicine and Public Health IMAS-UPF-ASPB, Barcelona, Spain

    María Grau

  7. IMIM-Hospital de Mar, Barcelona, Spain

    Elisabet de Jaime Gil

  8. Dept. of Pneumology, IMIM-Hospital de Mar, Barcelona, Spain

    Marisol Domínguez Álvarez

Authors
  1. Helmut Schröder
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  2. Jose Antonio Morales-Molina
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  3. Silvia Bermejo
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  4. Diego Barral
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  5. Eduardo Soler Mándoli
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  6. María Grau
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  7. Monica Guxens
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  8. Elisabet de Jaime Gil
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  9. Marisol Domínguez Álvarez
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  10. Jaume Marrugat
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Correspondence to Helmut Schröder.

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Schröder, H., Morales-Molina, J.A., Bermejo, S. et al. Relationship of abdominal obesity with alcohol consumption at population scale. Eur J Nutr 46, 369–376 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-007-0674-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-007-0674-7

Keywords

  • waist
  • alcoholic beverages
  • energy underreporting