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The relationship of alcohol use to weight loss in the context of behavioral weight loss treatment
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The relationship of alcohol use to weight loss in the context of behavioral weight loss treatment

Colleen A Kase, Amani D Piers, Katherine Schaumberg, Evan M Forman and Meghan L Butryn
Appetite, v 99, pp 105-111
01 Apr 2016
PMID: 26792773
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.01.014View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Body Mass Index Behavior Therapy Mental Recall Obesity - psychology Humans Middle Aged Male Alcohol Drinking Energy Intake Health Behavior Overweight - therapy Young Adult Weight Loss Adolescent Obesity - therapy Adult Female Aged Hyperphagia - psychology Overweight - psychology Hyperphagia - therapy Cohort Studies
Despite common wisdom that reducing alcohol intake will facilitate weight loss, little research has examined whether participants in behavioral weight loss treatments actually decrease their alcohol intake, or whether reduced alcohol intake relates to weight loss outcomes in this context. This study examined the relationship of alcohol use to energy intake excluding alcohol and to weight in 283 overweight and obese adults participating in a 26-session behavioral weight loss treatment. The majority of participants consumed low to moderate levels of alcohol at baseline. Participants who consumed alcohol at baseline meaningfully reduced their alcohol intake by end-of-treatment. Alcohol use did not relate to weight at baseline or end-of-treatment when controlling for relevant demographic variables, and change in alcohol use was unrelated to weight change in the overall sample during treatment. However, end-of-treatment alcohol intake did relate to end-of-treatment energy intake excluding alcohol. In addition, behavioral impulsivity and change in alcohol intake interacted to predict weight loss, such that decreases in alcohol intake were associated with greater percent weight loss at end-of-treatment for participants with higher levels of impulsivity. Alcohol consumption may lead to overeating episodes, and highly impulsive individuals may be at risk for increased energy intake during or after episodes of drinking. Therefore, the recommendation to reduce alcohol intake in the context of behavioral weight loss treatment seems warranted, particularly for individuals with high levels of impulsivity.

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13 citations in Scopus

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Web of Science research areas
Behavioral Sciences
Nutrition & Dietetics
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