Article

Beer consumption and the 'beer belly': scientific basis or common belief?

Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany.
European journal of clinical nutrition (impact factor: 3.07). 07/2009; 63(9):1143-9. DOI:10.1038/ejcn.2009.39 pp.1143-9
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT The term 'beer belly' expresses the common belief that beer consumption is a major determinant of waist circumference (WC). We studied the gender-specific associations between beer consumption and WC (partially in relation to body weight and hip circumference (HC) change).
Within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam study (7876 men, 12 749 women), cross-sectional associations were investigated applying general linear models. Prospective analyses of baseline beer consumption and an 8.5-year WC change were assessed using multivariate general linear models and polytomous logistic regression. To test the site-specific effect of beer consumption on WC, an adjustment for concurrent changes in body weight and HC was carried out. In addition, the relationship between change in beer consumption and change in WC was studied.
A positive association in men and no association in women were seen between beer consumption and WC at baseline. Men consuming 1000 ml/d beer were at 17% higher risk for WC gain compared with very light consumers. Significantly lower odds for WC gain (odds ratio=0.88; 95% confidence interval 0.81, 0.96) were found in beer-abstaining women than in very-light-drinking women. The adjustment for concurrent body weight and HC change diminished effect estimates notably, explaining most of the association between beer and change in WC. Decreasing beer consumption was related to higher relative odds for WC loss, although not statistically significant.
Beer consumption leads to WC gain, which is closely related to concurrent overall weight gain. This study does not support the common belief of a site-specific effect of beer on the abdomen, the beer belly.

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    Article: Dietary determinants of changes in waist circumference adjusted for body mass index - a proxy measure of visceral adiposity.
    Dora Romaguera, Lars Angquist, Huaidong Du, Marianne Uhre Jakobsen, Nita G Forouhi, Jytte Halkjaer, Edith J M Feskens, Daphne L van der A, Giovanna Masala, Annika Steffen, Domenico Palli, Nicholas J Wareham, Kim Overvad, Anne Tjønneland, Heiner Boeing, Elio Riboli, Thorkild I A Sørensen
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    PLoS ONE 01/2010; 5(7):e11588. · 4.09 Impact Factor
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

Keywords

applying general linear models
 
baseline beer consumption
 
beer belly
 
Beer consumption
 
beer-abstaining women
 
cross-sectional associations
 
Decreasing beer consumption
 
EPIC)-Potsdam study
 
gender-specific associations
 
higher relative odds
 
hip circumference
 
lower odds
 
major determinant
 
multivariate general linear models
 
Prospective analyses
 
site-specific effect
 
term 'beer belly'
 
very-light-drinking women
 
waist circumference
 
WC loss
 

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