Report: Binge Drinking ‘Link to Over Eating’

25 Apr 2014 --- A new report by Slimming World has revealed that drinking beyond a personal ‘tipping point’ leads many consumers to intake 6,300 extra calories in food and alcohol over the subsequent two days. The YouGov study, commissioned by Slimming World, monitored the eating and drinking habits of 2,042 people.

The findings of the survey showed that those who drink alcohol can push over into a ‘tipping point’, which may lead them to consume a potential extra 6,300 calories over the next 24 hours, leading to a 2lb (900g) a week weight gain.

The survey showed also that the average tipping point occurs at 9.3 units of alcohol, equivalent to 3.7 pints of beer or 3.1 large glasses of wine.

Half of those who drank this amount of alcohol said crossing the threshold had led them to binge on fast food, while the same number also said they cancelled physical activities the next day.

The survey showed that on the night that this amount of alcohol was consumed, people consumed an average of 2,829 extra calories from food and 1,476 extra calories in drink. And the following day the drinkers ate on average 2,051 extra calories.

Dr Jacquie Lavin, head of nutrition and research at Slimming World said alcohol weakened people’s self-control and it made the food even more rewarding. “There is currently not enough guidance for the public on how drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol can impact on weight.

Lavin is calling for the government to encourage calories to be included on alcohol labels. She said that “more needs to be done to make the public aware of the fact that alcohol contains calories in itself”.

Others in the industry have noted that while the survey is interesting it is not a scientific study. Nutritionists are reportedly calling for further scientific research into this subject, in order to tackle the rising levels of obesity and the health problems associated with being overweight.