Canada and the World
Current Events with a Canadian Perspective
Last update
12 April 2011
Obesity and Alcohol a Lethal Mix
New research finds that the combination of being overweight and drinking alcohol causes a higher
incidence of cirrhosis and other liver diseases
Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that the consumption of beer, wine,
and liquor, even in moderate amounts, causes a liver-
Drinking and Obese Women
More than a million middle-
Among women with a healthy weight and who consumed a third to a half a drink a day, 0.8 per 1,000 will be admitted to hospital and possibly die from cirrhosis over five years.
Among obese women with the same alcohol consumption the figure is 1 in 1,000.
However, with heavier drinking the numbers change considerable.
With healthy-
The study team estimates that nearly 20 percent of cirrhosis is caused by being overweight and nearly 50 percent comes from alcohol.
Lower Alcohol Intake Advised
Dr. Bette Liu, who led the study, says that obesity causes fat to build up in the liver. She is quoted by The Telegraph (March 12, 2010) as saying, “Fatty liver is also found in people with a high alcohol intake and diabetes. From a public health perspective, reducing both excessive alcohol consumption and excessive body weight should lead to a reduction in the incidence of liver cirrhosis.”
She points out that even moderate drinking carries health risks, but these are amplified when obesity is factored in. Combining two known causes for liver disease, alcohol and obesity, creates an impact that is greater than the sum of the parts.
Study of Heavy Male Drinkers
The same effect has been observed in men. According to 
an article in the British
Medical Journal (March 11, 2010), “Raised [Body Mass Index] and alcohol consumption
are both related to liver disease, with evidence of a supra-
This is the conclusion of a study of 9,000 men carried out in Scotland under the direction of Dr. Carole Hart of the University of Glasgow.
BBC News reports (March 12, 2010) that, “Obese men who said they drank 15 or more units a week had the greatest risk of liver disease; almost 19 times higher than those who were slim.”
Safe Alcohol Consumption Levels
Many studies have concluded that one drink a day may be beneficial to a person’s health and that “moderate” drinking carries a relatively low risk.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “drinking in moderation is defined as having no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men.”
Given the results of the two studies, the BBC comments “The authors of the research said ‘safe’ alcohol limits for the overweight may need to be redefined.”
Image credits
K. Connors
Clarita
Sources
“Obese Drinkers Face Liver ‘Double Whammy.’ ” Helen Briggs, BBC News, March 12, 2010.
“Effect of Body Mass Index and Alcohol Consumption on Liver Disease: Analysis of Data from Two Prospective Cohort Studies.” Carole L Hart et al, British Medical Journal, March 11, 2010.
“Reduce Safe Drinking Limits for Overweight People Research Suggests.” Richard Alleyne, The Telegraph, March 12, 2010
© Canada and the World, April 2011
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CIRRHOSIS
The liver acts as a kind of cleansing filter by removing bacteria and toxins from the blood. It also processes nutrients and hormones and creates proteins that control blood clotting.
Cirrhosis is a condition that causes injury to the liver and creates scar tissue that blocks the flow of blood through the organ.
A healthy liver can rebuild damaged cells but once cirrhosis has taken hold the organ can no longer repair itself.
Many people have no symptoms in early-
Healthy nutrition and avoidance of alcohol and other drugs are part of the treatment. In severe cases, transplanting is used.
Without effective treatment cirrhosis will trigger further complications that will lead to death.
“Cirrhosis can be deadly. But early treatment can help stop damage to the liver.”