What’s more interesting is the number of ways excessive alcohol affects your weight indirectly. Rather, it is a detailed combination of genetic markers and environmental precursors. There is a hereditary role in developing alcohol dependence, but an alcohol addiction gene has never been isolated. Having a parent who is an alcoholic makes you four times more likely to be one yourself, per the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.Environmental factors are part of the mix, too. Growing up in a household where alcohol is prevalent increases your risk of alcoholism. Your involvement with peers as you grow up and the age at which you begin drinking also contribute.

Drinking alcohol may lead to inflammation and irritation in the stomach which results in bloating. Alcohol can also cause weight https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/can-you-gain-weight-because-of-alcohol/ gain, giving the appearance of bloating. To flush out this water weight, cut the carbs down to 50g the day after drinking.

How Much Alcohol Contributes to Weight Gain

We asked them about their alcohol use, reasons for drinking, alcohol-related outcomes, health and more. A subset of the study’s respondents (47.1%) qualified as heavy alcohol users. Research shows that people who drink before age 15 are four times more likely to become addicted to alcohol later in life. A person can overcome alcohol abuse before it spirals into a full-blown alcohol addiction.

Alcohol is high in calories and is likely to increase abdominal fat. Because plenty of alcoholic drinks are both calorie dense and filled with sugar, drinking a good amount of booze can leave you feeling bloated and unable to lose weight. Alcohol can also cause inflammation, dehydration and gastrointestinal issues, which can contribute to bloating and weight gain. A recent discovery shows that alcohol has an effect on an area of the brain that provokes hunger. When alcohol is consumed, the brain’s hunger signals may be distorted, leading to an increased motivation to eat despite consuming calories from alcohol. Further, studies show that alcohol temporarily inhibits “lipid oxidation”— in other words, when alcohol is in your system, it’s harder for your body to burn fat that’s already there.

What to know about alcohol bloating

Research has found that elevated cortisol levels may increase abdominal weight gain. Cortisol redistributes fat tissue to your abdominal region and increases https://ecosoberhouse.com/ cravings for high-calorie foods. Alcohol also affects the hormones that control hunger6, making you feel more hungry than you normally would.