Does Drinking Wine Cause Weight Gain? - Journal of the American Center for Nutrition

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

There are many studies about alcohol and weight gain
All alcohol is a source of empty calories
Wine may not be as harmful as other types of alcoholic beverages when it comes to weight gain
Red wine has antioxidants that may be beneficial to health

Wine is a popular way to relax and unwind at the end of the day, and in many parts of the world, it is a staple part of people’s daily routines. But this does raise the question of whether or not wine can cause weight gain.

Drinking wine in excess can lead to weight gain because of the empty calories that you are consuming. If you consume more calories than you burn each day, you are more likely to start putting weight on. However, in moderation, wine can be beneficial to your health.

As with so many things in life, imbibing wine is something that needs to be done in moderation and not to excess if you want to enjoy the benefits without worrying about weight gain.

Will Wine Cause You to Gain Weight?

Alcohol consumption can lead to weight gain due to its empty calories. Wine is no exception, containing around 120-150 calories in each glass.

This can quickly add up if you drink wine regularly, leading to weight gain over time. In addition, alcohol can interfere with your ability to make healthy food choices and impair your judgment, leading to further caloric intake [1].

If you want to maintain a healthy weight, avoiding consuming excess wine is best.

What is the Calorific Content of Different Types of Wine?

It might seem like wine shouldn’t have a high-calorie content since it’s made from fermented grape juice, but the fact of the matter is that most of the calories in wine come from the alcohol itself, as well as the number of carbs in each glass.

Expert Tip: Wine does not have a high number of calories, but the fact that it is so easy to drink an excess of it means that you can very quickly consume more calories than you need.

How many calories are in wine? The calorie counts below are based on one 150ml serving:

Chardonnay: 123 cal
Sauvignon blanc: 119 cal
Pinot noir: 121 cal
Cabernet: 122 cal
Rosé: 125 cal
Prosecco: 98 cal

Dry wines tend to have fewer calories than sweet wines due to the difference in sugar content. Sparkling wines, on the other hand, have the lowest number of calories out of every type.

Expert Tip: Wine belly isn’t considered an official term, but it can and does happen. Drinking alcohol of any kind can lead to more belly fat.

What About Other Forms of Alcohol?

Wine contains fewer calories than heavy beer and spirits, making it the alcoholic beverage of choice if you want to get a buzz without the risk of a beer belly later.

Of course, light beer and other similar drinks have fewer calories than wine, but you also end up with less alcohol intake with these drinks. The benefit of this is that it won’t have a negative impact on your body weight.

If you drink alcohol of any kind, you run the risk of consuming excess calories. This is why moderate drinking is important if you want to lose weight and avoid any potential side effects.

What are the Risks of Drinking Wine?

If you drink wine (or other forms of alcohol) in moderation, there is no need to worry about the potential risks associated with drinking wine.

However, if you find yourself regularly drinking excessively, you may encounter serious health problems down the line, where gaining weight and extra calories are the least of your concerns.

Liver Problems

Your liver is responsible for processing the alcohol you drink, and too much wine can lead to fatty liver disease.

This can cause scarring to the liver, which is permanent and damaging and is commonly known as cirrhosis [2].

Increased Risk of Depression

Evidence suggests that those who drink wine in excess are more likely to experience depression [3].

This may be due to the fact that alcohol is a depressant, or it could be linked to the fact that wine is often consumed in social situations.

If you find that you are regularly drinking wine to cope with depression, it is best to speak to a professional about getting help.

Increased Risk of Heart Disease

Drinking wine in moderation has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, but drinking to excess can have the opposite effect.

This is because alcohol consumption can lead to high blood pressure, which strains the heart and can eventually lead to heart failure [4].

Increased Risk of Dementia (Alcoholic Dementia)

Drinking wine to excess can also lead to dementia, especially in later life. This is because alcohol consumption can damage the brain, leading to problems with memory, thinking, and learning [5].

Expert Tip: Those who suffer from alcoholism are also prone to a form of dementia known as alcoholic dementia, which is caused by years of alcohol abuse.

Increased Risk of Cancer

Drinking wine in excess can also increase your risk of developing cancer, particularly breast cancer [6]. This is because alcohol consumption can damage the DNA in cells, which can lead to the development of cancerous tumors.

Does Wine Have any Health Benefits?

Despite the potential risks associated with drinking wine, there are also a number of health benefits that have been linked to moderate consumption of wine.

It should be noted that any health benefits associated with wines are from red wine, which is deemed the healthiest option compared to white and rose options.

Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Moderate wine consumption has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, thanks to the presence of antioxidants in wine, which can help to protect the heart.

In fact, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that those who drank wine in moderation had a 32% lower risk of developing heart disease than those who did not drink wine at all [7].

Lower Risk of Stroke

Wine consumption has also been linked to a reduced risk of stroke, thanks to the fact that it can help to prevent blood clots from forming.

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that those who drank wine in moderation had a reduced risk of suffering from a stroke [8].

Lower Risk of Diabetes

Wine consumption has also been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, thanks to the presence of antioxidants in wine, which can help to prevent the body from developing insulin resistance.

A study published in the journal Diabetes Care found that those who drank wine in moderation had a 30% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes [9].

Should You Stop Drinking Wine to Lose Weight?

While wine consumption does come with some risks, there are also a number of health benefits that have been linked to moderate wine consumption.

Additionally, while it is true that drinking wine can lead to weight gain, this tends to only occur when you drink to excess and are consuming more calories than you’re able to burn.

If you are going to drink wine, it is important to do so in moderation and to avoid drinking to excess.

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