The Relationship Between Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Body Weight

Background. Reported alcohol intake has an inverse association with body weight in women but is related to greater weight or no differences in weight in men. However, the relationship of alcohol consumption to weight appears to be less reliable in cigarette smokers and may be modified by the pattern of alcohol intake. The objective of this investigation was to examine the relationship of both aggregate alcohol intake and daily modal intake to body mass index (BMI) in male and female cigarette smokers. Methods. Cigarette smoking habits, body weight, and alcohol intake were assessed during screening for a clinical trial of early intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Analyses are based on 3616 men and 2141 women cigarette smokers between 35 and 60 years of age. Results. There were no significant differences in BMI between alcohol drinkers and abstainers in either men or women. However, following regression adjustment for age, education, and cigarettes/day, total weekly alcohol intake was related to a lower BMI in both men and women, whereas a greater modal intake (drinks on a day alcohol is consumed) was related to a greater BMI in both men and women. Conclusions. The association of alcohol use to BMI in moderate to heavy cigarette smokers appears to be modified by the pattern of intake. Although the factors underlying this association are unclear, increased modal alcohol intake may serve as a marker for dietary or behavioural factors linked to greater body weight in cigarette smokers.