Aside from fat, ethanol is the macronutrient with the greatest energy density. Whether the energy derived from ethanol affects body composition and fat mass is debatable.
We investigated the relationship of alcohol intake, body composition, and physical activity in the U.S. population by using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).
A total of 10,550 subjects met eligibility criteria and constituted our study cohort. Estimated percent body fat and resting metabolic rate were calculated on the basis of the sum of the skinfolds. Multivariate regression analyses were performed accounting for the study sampling weight.
In both sexes, moderate and hazardous alcohol drinkers were younger (p < .05) and had significantly lower body mass index.
Our results showed that alcoholics are habitually less active and that alcohol drinking is an independent predictor of lower percent body fat, especially in male alcoholics.
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