Health - Alcohol. "Beer belly": Is it really beer that makes your stomach bloat?

Let's start with the basics: Yes, as an alcoholic beverage, beer contains calories. And therefore, it's potentially fattening. But a half pint provides about 150 calories, compared to 110 for a glass of red wine. So the difference isn't as huge as you might think. So why the bad reputation?

" Contrary to popular belief, there is no direct link between beer consumption and abdominal fat accumulation ," says Matthieu Marty, a doctoral student in exercise and nutrition physiology and a sports nutritionist. "This claim is supported by solid scientific studies, including the 2009 EPIC-POTSDAM study, which found no specific correlation between beer and waist size. "

"It's not the beer that makes the belly."

And if some people who drink beer get belly fat, it's related to overall weight gain from alcohol, not the beer itself. As our expert so aptly puts it: " It's not the beer that makes the belly ."

Why this confusion?

" Several factors explain this persistent misconception ," the nutritionist continues. "First, we often confuse correlation with causation. Just because two phenomena appear together doesn't necessarily mean they are linked by a cause-and-effect relationship. Weight gain always results from a combination of factors: an unbalanced diet, lack of physical activity, social and psychological context, and of course, excessive alcohol consumption. The 'beer belly' reflects an overall lifestyle rather than the consumption of a particular beverage ."

This claim is corroborated by a 2015 study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, which included nearly 200,000 supermarket shoppers. It revealed that beer drinkers consume more fatty, salty, and sugary foods. They also adopt a more sedentary lifestyle—all factors that actually promote weight gain.

The deceptive effect of ascites

In some extreme cases, what is mistaken for a "beer belly" is actually ascites.

" Ascites is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, most often caused by advanced liver disease, such as alcohol-related cirrhosis ," explains Matthieu Marty. "It is therefore not the beer itself that causes the belly to swell, but a serious complication that disrupts hepatic blood circulation and causes excessive pressure in the abdomen. 'Ascites belly' is therefore a symptom of severe liver damage, and not a direct consequence of beer consumption ."

Bubbles…

Finally, let's not forget the effect of carbon dioxide, which can distend the stomach and give that bloated feeling.

So beer isn't the nutritional devil it's sometimes portrayed as. As with everything, it's a matter of moderation and lifestyle. Replacing beer with another alcohol won't solve weight problems...

Source: Interview with Matthieu Marty, PhD student in exercise and nutrition physiology and sports nutritionist