Beer belly has a genetic background

Experts claim that “beer does not cause pot bellies”, The Sun reported. The newspaper said the researchers had found that heavy drinkers do put on weight, but it is spread all over their body. It said that the pot belly, long thought to be associated with drinking, may be due more to genetics.

This cohort study looked at beer consumption, weight and body measurements in almost 20,000 people on two occasions over an average of six years. It found that increased beer consumption over time was linked with increased waist circumference, particularly for men. However, once a person’s overall weight was taken into account, the significance of these associations disappeared. This suggests that any weight gain from beer is distributed all over the body, rather than being concentrated around the waist.

Although this study does not support the notion of a ‘beer belly’ as such, it demonstrates that the more beer you drink, the more weight you gain. Beer and other alcoholic drinks are high in calories and will contribute to weight gain if taken in excessive amounts, as well as being detrimental to health in numerous other ways.

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