Keen to lose fat? The best thing you can do for yourself (even before you put that pastry fork down), is to put the booze glass down

The heady smoke screen will clear out, but demons of alcohol will stay

Keen to lose fat? The best thing you can do for yourself (even before you put that pastry fork down), is to put the booze glass down

The next time you "feel like a drink", we suggest you take a New York minute to think about how you fare on the weighing scale, especially if you are a woman who's battling a weight problem.

"The rate at which women metabolise alcohol is reported to be higher than that of men," says Dr Anand Joshi, Consultant Gastroenterologist, PD Hinduja Hospital.

What this means is that women's bodies are pre-disposed to use alcohol as fuel faster than men.

Not the best news for women weight-watchers, since the consumption of alcohol, which nutritionists typically refer to as "empty calories" delays the burning of fat.

"One ml of pure alcohol equals 7 kcals, which is more fattening than carbohydrates and proteins. Alcohol is then broken down into acetate in the body, which is primarily used as fuel in place of fat.

Hence, excessive consumption of alcohol adds to fat," explains Dr Purwa Duggal, HOD, Nutrition Therapy, Fortis Hospitals.

So, as long as your body keeps itself busy "metabolising" the alcohol in your system those far-from-pretty globules of fat will sit there waiting to be put to work, which will only happen when you engage in some form of cardio activity.

"Alcohol gets diluted when in water. The genetic make-up of women is usually such that their bodies have a lower content of water than men.

As a result, women's organs are more exposed to the toxic wastes produced during alcohol metabolism," adds Dr Duggal.

The body takes in carbohydrates, fats and proteins, which it breaks down into smaller and smaller molecules. Carbs are sequentially metabolised over a serious of steps into acetate.

"Alcohol can be converted into acetate in fewer steps than it takes for carbohydrates. It's like the body opting to take the lift instead of the stairs," explains
Dr Joshi.

She lives with an alcohol-monitoring bracelet

Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan at the Beverly Hills Courthouse on May 24, 2010, during a hearing to respond to allegations that she had not attended a set number of alcohol education classes. LiLo, who starred in the 1998 blockbuster The Parent Trap ranks high on the list of notorious celeb alcoholics. During one of her drinking binges, she allegedly crashed her car and fled the scene even before the cops could get there. Just last month, following a failed court appearance, the 23 year-old was ordered to wear an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet.

Not all equal
Depending on the alcoholic and sugar content of the beverage, certain alcoholic drinks are likely to cause more weight gain than others. "Beer has a 5% alcohol content. So, a 360 ml can of beer has 13.85 gms of alcohol in terms of its weight by volume," says Dr Joshi.
Alcohol intake exceeding 20 gms per day is considered to be a risk factor for the development of liver disease in women. So, a woman drinking two to three cans of beer everyday over a period of 10 years is at risk for developing liver disease, the equivalent of a man drinking three to six cans of beer daily over the same period.
Other health complications that can result from excess intake of alcohol include diabetes, mental impairment and diminished sexual performance.

Ill effects of alcohol
To quote from a report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute: Low to moderate alcohol consumption among women is associated with a statistically significant increase in cancer risk and may account for nearly 13 % of the cancers of the breast, liver, rectum, and upper aero-digestive tract combined.
"A woman's genetic make-up shapes the effects of alcohol. A family history of alcohol problems, a woman's risk of illnesses like heart disease and breast cancer, medications if any, and age are among the factors for each woman to weigh in deciding when, how much, and how often to drink," explains Dr Duggal.

The Good News
Still, there are conflicting studies about alcohol, like for instance, the benefits of red wine. "Red wine has a higher level of resveratrol (known to lower LDL and raise HDL cholesterol) than white wine. However, grape juice, or wine consumption doesn't justify as a healthy lifestyle," says Dr Duggal.
A recent US-based study suggested that women who regularly consumed moderate amounts of alcohol were less likely to gain weight than non-drinkers and were at a lower risk for obesity. The study tracked 19,220 American women aged 39 or older over a period of 13 years, who at the start of the study fell into the "normal weight" category based on their body mass index (BMI).

Last words of wisdom
However, alcohol is not the prescription for good health. For those who wish to drink, moderation appears to be the key. "Small amounts may not cause much harm, but excess will certainly undo the good work," concludes Dr Duggal.

Psychologist's View
The situation gets bleaker for women in an urban set-up, given social pressures and certain expectations. "The definition of cool has now become whether or not a woman can 'hold her drink'. We're seeing a growing number of women from cities, including Mumbai and Bangalore, hitting bars more frequently. Within a corporate set-up they are often coaxed and cajoled into accompanying their male colleagues, and feel the need to comply as they want to 'fit in'. Women who do this are looking at empowerment in a very narrow sense of the term," says Dr Chulani.
However, she cautions against the stereotyping of women who drink as "loose", "immoral" or "characterless". "There is nothing wrong if a woman enjoys the occasional drink as long as she is a responsible drinker."

Celebs gone bad

Socialite Paris Hilton went to jail in 2007 for alcohol-related reckless driving on September 6, 2006. A few months later on February 27, 2007, while still on probation, cops spotted the heiress speeding down Sunset Boulevard at night without her headlights on. Since she was found driving with a suspended license, she was arrested for the second time. The celebutante spent 23 days in jail and thereafter has been spotted leaving nightclubs with a driver in tow so, that she doesn't risk getting arrested again.

Socialite and actress Nicole Richie was arrested for drunk driving in 2006 after cops caught her driving on the wrong side of the freeway. After pleading guilty, she was sentenced to four days in jail and three years probation. On August 23, 2007, Richie reported to the Century Regional Detention Center in Los Angeles and served an 82-minute sentence. Richie is believed to have since sobered down, especially after becoming a mother.

In 2007, pop princess Britney Spears underwent treatment for both alcohol addiction and drug use at the Promises Center in Malibu. She also attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in Santa Monica. A fortnight before the incident, Spears was spotted checking into a hotel, but was denied a room because she didn't have enough money on her. Thereafter, she walked through the hotel to the pool and stripped down to her bra and knickers. She was also seen raiding the minibar, grabbing five bottles, mixing the booze and then drinking the heady cocktail.

Think before you drink
Situations in which alcohol is an absolute no-no
When you are under 21
When you are pregnant
When you are the designated driver on a night out with friends
When you are required to operate heavy machinery or any activity which requires attention, coordination or a particular skill
When you under medication or taking prescription drugs that can have an adverse reaction to alcohol