Alcohol use: Weighing risks and benefits
However, a prospective study following almost 15,000 men at four-year periods found only an increased risk of minor weight gain with higher intakes of alcohol. 19 Compared to those who did not change their alcohol intake, those who increased their intake by 2 or more drinks a day gained a little more than a half-pound. It was noted that calorie intake (not from alcohol) tended to increase along with alcohol intake. The risk of death was also found to be greater for women, with a 61% increased risk for women who drink more than 2 ounces of alcohol per day. He noted that the study challenges the popular publicly held belief that moderate drinking poses minimal health risks and alcoholism symptoms may even confer benefits.
- However, it is important to note that even low levels of alcohol consumption can raise the risk of certain cancers.
- “When you talk about risk versus benefit, it’s one thing to say there is no benefit,” said Dr. Jennifer Ashton, a board-certified OB-GYN and ABC News chief medical correspondent, who was not involved in the research.
- Binge drinking and heavy alcohol use are not considered moderate consumption and carry increased health risks.
- The relationship between alcohol intake and cardiovascular disease is complex, and the benefits may be influenced by factors such as drinking frequency, consumption patterns, and the type of alcoholic beverage.
- Because alcohol is a depressant, many people drink at night as a way to calm racing thoughts and induce sleepiness.
Kennedy makes his formal pitch to fight chronic disease in new MAHA report
The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research at Cornell University is focused on using research findings to improve health and https://www.dampproofingdirect.co.uk/understanding-ketamine-effects-risks-and-staying/ well-being of people at all stages of life. Dr. Michael Pignone, a professor of medicine at Duke University, said that he hasn’t seen enough evidence to tell people to stop drinking but that they shouldn’t start. Experts refer to this benefit as a lower risk of “all-cause mortality.” Or—more simply—death from anything. Heavy drinking can also cause problems well beyond the health of the drinker — it can damage important relationships. It’s all too common that problem drinking disrupts bonds with a spouse, family members, friends, coworkers, or employers. Many people report finding more fulfilling hobbies once they place less focus on drinking, and more focus on their own special interests.
- Some people are already at higher risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease because of their genetics or other risky behaviors like tobacco use.
- In many cases, even moderate drinking (defined below) appears to increase risk.
- Ultimately, clinicians like Stafford and Humphreys said they hope people who decide to drink alcohol do it consciously, armed with knowledge about its risks.
- The investigators reported in the journal BMC Medicine that people who drank from 2 to 7 glasses of wine per week were much less likely to be diagnosed with clinical depression.
Beyond the Heart

This can lead to lower A1C levels compared to abstaining from alcohol. We want the clinical partnership to be collaborative with shared decision can you moderate your drinking making,” said Linde. Some past studies had suggested that moderate drinking might be good for your health. More studies now show that there aren’t health benefits of moderate drinking compared to not drinking.

Moderate Alcohol: Health Benefits, Risks, and Science Explained
In 2015, 26.9 percent of people in the United States reported binge drinking in the past month. Higher-quality studies focused on participants aged 55 or younger, properly separated former and occasional drinkers from those who abstain, and tracked participants from younger into older age. The United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Holland and Australia recently reviewed new evidence and lowered their alcohol consumption recommendations. Ireland will require cancer warning labels on alcohol starting in 2026. Moderate drinking was once thought to have benefits for the heart, but better research methods have thrown cold water on that. Learn more about the effects of alcohol use on men’s and women’s health.

