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Associations of 5-year changes in alcoholic beverage intake with 5-year changes in waist circumference and BMI in the Coronary Artery Risk development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study
A study investigated the contradictory associations of alcohol intake with waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) by examining 5-yr changes in alcohol intake in relation to 5-yr WC and BMI changes.
The prospective study included 4,355 participants (1,974 men and 2,381 women) enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study at baseline (1985-1986) and followed over 25 years (2010-2011). Researchers examined whether changes in drinking (defined categorically) as starting to drink, increasing, decreasing, stable drinking or stopping drinking (versus stable non-drinking) over a series of 5-yr periods were associated with corresponding 5-yr waist circumference and body mass index changes. Associations with 5-yr changes in drinking level (i.e., light/moderate and excessive) and 5-yr changes by beverage type (i.e., beer, wine and liquor/mixed drinks) were also examined.
The study found that in men, compared to stable non-drinking, decreasing total alcohol intake was associated with lower 5-yr WC (β:-0.62 cm; 95% CI: -1.09, -0.14 cm) and BMI gains (β:-0.20 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.30, -0.03 kg/m2) and stopping excessive drinking was associated with lower 5-yr WC gains (β:-0.77 cm; 95% CI: -1.51, -0.03 cm). In women, compared to those with stable non-drinking habits, starting light/moderate drinking was associated with lower 5-yr WC (β: -0.78 cm; 95% CI: -1.29, -0.26 cm) and BMI gains (β:-0.42 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.64, -0.20 kg/m2). Increasing wine intake was associated with a lower 5-yr BMI gain (β:-0.27 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.51, -0.03 kg/m2). Decreasing liquor/mixed drink (β:-0.33 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.56, -0.09 kg/m2) intake was associated with lower 5-yr WC (β:-0.88 cm; 95% CI: -1.43, -0.34 cm) and BMI (β:-0.33 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.56, -0.09 kg/m2) gains.
The researchers conclude that associations of alcohol intake with obesity measures are complex. In women, wine and liquor/mixed drink intakes had contrasting associations with WC and BMI change. In men, decreasing weekly alcoholic beverage intake with an emphasis on stopping excessive consumption may be beneficial in managing WC and BMI gains.
Source: Butler JL, Gordon-Larsen P, Steffen LM, Shikany JM, Jacobs DR Jr, Popkin BM, Poti JM. Associations of 5-year changes in alcoholic beverage intake with 5-year changes in waist circumference and BMI in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. PLoS One. 2023 Mar 8;18(3):e0281722.
The prospective study included 4,355 participants (1,974 men and 2,381 women) enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study at baseline (1985-1986) and followed over 25 years (2010-2011). Researchers examined whether changes in drinking (defined categorically) as starting to drink, increasing, decreasing, stable drinking or stopping drinking (versus stable non-drinking) over a series of 5-yr periods were associated with corresponding 5-yr waist circumference and body mass index changes. Associations with 5-yr changes in drinking level (i.e., light/moderate and excessive) and 5-yr changes by beverage type (i.e., beer, wine and liquor/mixed drinks) were also examined.
The study found that in men, compared to stable non-drinking, decreasing total alcohol intake was associated with lower 5-yr WC (β:-0.62 cm; 95% CI: -1.09, -0.14 cm) and BMI gains (β:-0.20 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.30, -0.03 kg/m2) and stopping excessive drinking was associated with lower 5-yr WC gains (β:-0.77 cm; 95% CI: -1.51, -0.03 cm). In women, compared to those with stable non-drinking habits, starting light/moderate drinking was associated with lower 5-yr WC (β: -0.78 cm; 95% CI: -1.29, -0.26 cm) and BMI gains (β:-0.42 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.64, -0.20 kg/m2). Increasing wine intake was associated with a lower 5-yr BMI gain (β:-0.27 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.51, -0.03 kg/m2). Decreasing liquor/mixed drink (β:-0.33 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.56, -0.09 kg/m2) intake was associated with lower 5-yr WC (β:-0.88 cm; 95% CI: -1.43, -0.34 cm) and BMI (β:-0.33 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.56, -0.09 kg/m2) gains.
The researchers conclude that associations of alcohol intake with obesity measures are complex. In women, wine and liquor/mixed drink intakes had contrasting associations with WC and BMI change. In men, decreasing weekly alcoholic beverage intake with an emphasis on stopping excessive consumption may be beneficial in managing WC and BMI gains.
Source: Butler JL, Gordon-Larsen P, Steffen LM, Shikany JM, Jacobs DR Jr, Popkin BM, Poti JM. Associations of 5-year changes in alcoholic beverage intake with 5-year changes in waist circumference and BMI in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. PLoS One. 2023 Mar 8;18(3):e0281722.
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