The effects of alcohol on maternal nutrition and birth weight

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Alcohol, Drugs and Weight Gain or Loss: What the Research Says

The effects of alcohol abuse on body weight

Alcohol abuse not only disrupts the body’s ability to extract nutrients from food and transport them to different parts of the body, but it also causes intestinal damage. When the intestines become irritated, digestive processes either slow down or stop and this may lead to a loss of appetite, constipation and an intestinal blockage. All of these symptoms cause people to eat less and begin to lose weight [4].

Eating less means that adequate amounts of nutrients will not be consumed and as a person’s weight continues to drop, poor nutrition may begin to cause a number of health problems that include [7]:

• Eating disorders
• Tooth decay
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Heart attack and stroke
• High blood pressure
• Osteoporosis
• Depression
• Seizures
• Certain types of cancer (e.g., liver)
• Increased risk of death

Consuming alcohol on an empty stomach is another harmful habit that can cause blood sugar to drop to dangerously low levels. Overtime, alcohol abuse may even lead to glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes because the liver focuses too much energy on processing and excreting the toxins that alcohol produces [8].

Alcohol abuse can also lead to fluctuations in weight due to its effect on the brain. If the stomach is empty, alcohol can quickly leave the stomach and reach the brain. This process is slowed when there is food in the stomach, but if a large amount of alcohol is consumed, it can still reach the bloodstream, liver, and the brain much more quickly than the nutrients contained in the food.

The liver takes about two hours to process the alcohol that is contained in one alcoholic beverage such as a glass of wine or a beer. If alcohol has been consumed excessively, it circulates throughout the body until the liver can process it. This means that, in the interim, the brain and other organs (e.g., kidney and heart) receive high levels of toxins that are released from alcohol.

Alcohol subsequently affects the brain by causing vision, speech, judgment and reasoning problems. These types of side effects may cause some individuals to eat less, forget to eat, overeat or eat foods that they would normally avoid. Forgetting to eat properly can quickly lead to weight loss, but overeating can also lead to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes and other conditions such as heart disease [9].

Type 2 diabetes that develops due to alcohol abuse and weight loss is the result of not eating enough food, which leads to persistently low blood sugar levels and glucose intolerance. The body’s intolerance to glucose (sugar) develops because the liver avoids utilizing glucose in order to continuously process the high amount of alcohol that has been consumed.

Conversely, alcohol abuse that leads to obesity and type 2 diabetes is the result of persistently high blood sugar levels. Overeating means fats and carbohydrates are being consumed faster than the body can break them down and excrete the waste. This leads to high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood that the liver cannot immediately process because it is already trying to remove the excess alcohol. As a result, obesity in combination with uncontrolled sugar levels can eventually also cause type 2 diabetes [9].

In general, alcohol abuse can lead to dangerous fluctuations in weight that may eventually cause irreversible organ damage and disorders such as diabetes. For instance, once an individual has been diagnosed with diabetes, this becomes a lifelong condition that must permanently be treated. Similarly, late stage liver disease that develops due to alcohol abuse is irreversible, although refraining from drinking alcohol can slow down the progression of the disease. Steps should be taken early to avoid the harmful effects of alcohol abuse.

The effects of alcohol on maternal nutrition and birth weight

If alcohol is consumed during pregnancy, it can cause poor nutrition for the mother as well as the unborn baby. More specifically, consuming alcohol while pregnant can lead to physical and mental problems as well as acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the newborn child [10]. If alcohol or drugs are consumed during a pregnancy, the mother’s poor diet may hinder the proper growth and development of the baby and cause low birth weight [11].

Ways to consume alcohol safely and maintain a healthy weight

Drinking alcohol occasionally and in moderation usually does not cause health problems, but consuming large amounts on a regular basis frequently constitutes alcohol abuse and ushers in a number of different health problems. Here are some helpful strategies for consuming alcohol safely:

Eat healthy meals before drinking in moderation. In addition, eat snacks that are low in salt and fat in between drinks as this slows down the body’s absorption of alcohol.

Take days off from drinking alcohol, even if only small amounts of alcohol are consumed regularly. This deters the development of alcohol abuse and addiction patterns, as well as the onset of organ damage associated with habitual alcohol consumption.

Keep track of the types of drinks that are consumed as some drinks contain more alcohol than others. Keeping track also provides an indication of when the drinking should stop.

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About the Author

Dr. Karen Vieira, PhD MSM

Dr. Vieira is a research scientist with a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Florida College of Medicine Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. She has done clinical and laboratory research on diseases, cellular functioning and nutritional supplements. Her focus is helping people make dietary and lifestyle changes that prevent, cure or improve health conditions.