How alcohol can affect your weight is complicated.
Your weight is affected by many things, not just by what you eat and drink.
But drinking alcohol often can affect your weight and nutrition. Drinking less can help you manage your weight.
Alcohol and calories
Alcohol is high in calories. It has almost the same calories per gram as fat.
Alcoholic drinks can also be high in sugar because of:
- ingredients added during production
- mixers (soft or fizzy drinks such as cola or tonic water) you may add
Alcohol contains calories. But it does not give you the nutrition you need, such as protein, vitamins or minerals.
Taking in fewer calories from alcohol leaves more room in your diet for foods that nourish you and help you feel well.
Check calories in drinks using our drinks calculator.
Alcohol and your waist size
Your body is more likely to store fat around your tummy area if you drink alcohol often.
This is because of how the liver processes alcohol and the extra calories you may take in from alcohol and food.
Having more fat around your tummy can increase your risk of:
Health problems linked to weight
Learn more about your waist measurement
Alcohol and your appetite
Alcohol can affect your appetite. Some people feel hungrier when they drink alcohol.
Alcohol can reduce the hormones that make you feel full.
This can make you feel less satisfied after you eat. This means you are likely to eat more when you drink alcohol.
Regular heavy drinking can reduce your appetite.
If you are worried about your drinking, take our alcohol test. This will help you find out the type of drinker you are.
Alcohol and your food choices
Alcohol can affect your food choices. You may find less nutritious food more enjoyable when you drink alcohol.
These foods can often be high in fat and sugar. For example, you might have fast food after a night out or snack on crisps or nuts with wine or beer.
Drinking alcohol can also make it harder to follow through on healthy lifestyle choices. You may be more likely to pick less healthy food options.
Alcohol and nutrition
Alcohol can affect how your liver processes nutrients from food. This means vitamins and minerals may not be absorbed or used as well as they should be.
Drinking alcohol often can lower levels of important nutrients, such as vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin D and folate.
Alcohol can also irritate the lining of your stomach and gut, making it harder to eat well and absorb nutrients from food.
How alcohol affects the stomach
How low Vitamin B1 (thiamine) can affect your brain
Alcohol dependence and nutrition
Alcohol dependence can affect your nutrition.
Some people who are dependent on alcohol eat less. They may also have less balance in their meals. This means they miss out on important nutrients and can be at risk of malnutrition.
If you feel that your drinking is affecting how much and how well you eat, talk to your GP or a dietitian.
You may need medical support and nutrition supplements to help you safely reintroduce food to your diet.
Non-urgent advice: Get help with problem alcohol use
For confidential advice, freephone 1800 459 459.