Why does drinking alcohol cause people to gain weight?

Question

What's the biochemical reason?

Answer 1

there is no technical 'biochemical' reason - it is very simple - alcohol is very high in calories

Answer 2

I don't know about biochemical, but the nutritional reason is about calories. Alcohol has calories in it, empty calories that contain no nutritional value so you still crave nutrients and eat just as much - or more, because alcohol also affects your self control. If you're drinking beer or wine, there are a lot of calories, if you're drinking mixers, they usually have quite a bit of calories too. As exersize factors into calorie use, and drinking alcohol causes lethargy, that's probably a third reason alcohol causes weight gain, it makes you lazy.

There isn't some magial, biochemical reason. It's a very simple matter of calories in and calories out.

Answer 3

The liver breaks down alcohols into acetaldehyde by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, and then into acetic acid by the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. Next, the acetate is converted into fats or carbon dioxide and water. The fats are mostly deposited locally which, according to some, leads to the characteristic "beer belly".

Answer 4

I think when people drink they are more likely to eat bad foods i.e peanuts, crisps, take aways and thats what make you gain weight.

Answer 5

easy one ...alcoholic bevs ( beer in particular ) are incredibly high in carbs ...usually more than you can use in a day ....unless you are building muscle , excess protein is pissed away...fat is catabolized or stored directly as fat ...extra carbs are stored as glycogen....
not unlike that nasty jellied junk used to fill the space between the ham and the can....

and i leave you with that lovely image ! where's my Ab-Lounge !!!!!

Answer 6

Have you checked out the calories on the package???? They add up quickly!

Answer 7

CH3CH2OH+2K2Cr2O7+8H2SO4>2CO2+2K2SO4+2Cr2(SO4)3+11H2O.