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Does Drinking Alcohol Results In Weight Gain?

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Posted on Mon, 16 Mar 2015
Question: I am 68 years old and as of late have begin to drinking heavily again ( about a pint of straight Vodka per day as for the last 5 months! )
I am 5' 8" and currently weight 195 pounds.
Last month at the same time I weighed 198
I have no other symptoms such as jaundice , upper body pain etc but just have little appetite etc. I do eat small meals tho.
Is this normal?
I have a big belly but I attribute this to lack of excerscise"
Can you you perhaps advise?
heavily again ( about a pint of straight Vodka per day as for the last 5 months! )
I am 5' 8" and currently weight 195 pounds.
Last month at the same time I weighed 198
I have no other symptoms such as jaundice , upper body pain etc but just have no appetite etc.
Is this normal?
I have a big belly but I attribute this to lack of excerscise"
Can you you perhaps advise?
IF in the event I have ascites can the process be reversed or slowed down if I quit drinking?
Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Stopping drinking will help to slow or reduce worsening

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

Any type of alcohol excess in quantity is surely going to affect liver, biliary system and overall digestive tract.It is good that you do not have jaundice or pain. But reduce appetite and decrease meal are likely effects of so much vodka intake.It may affect your health seriously at any time.In this case you have to stop drinking vodka anyhow. If you feel withdrawal features like tremors,sleep disturbance(will occur mostly on stopping suddenly in your case) you should deaddicted after consulting doctor with help of medicines.

In my opinion you should undergo ultrasound abdomen for alcohol liver disease as well as serum billirubin and SGPT level to check how much damage has been occurred until now. Quitting drinking will help for sure to stop progress of damage to liver and overall health and depending upon damage may help to reduce damage with help of supportive medicines.Yes stopping alcohol can prevent or treat ascites.

Weight 198 pound and height 5'8'' suggest BMI 29.4 which shows obesity. Obesity is risk factor for hypertension and diabetes. Your ideal weight should not be more than 165 pounds. Start exercise and try to reduce weight.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Chintan Solanki

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2406 Questions

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Does Drinking Alcohol Results In Weight Gain?

Brief Answer: Stopping drinking will help to slow or reduce worsening Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for writing to us. Any type of alcohol excess in quantity is surely going to affect liver, biliary system and overall digestive tract.It is good that you do not have jaundice or pain. But reduce appetite and decrease meal are likely effects of so much vodka intake.It may affect your health seriously at any time.In this case you have to stop drinking vodka anyhow. If you feel withdrawal features like tremors,sleep disturbance(will occur mostly on stopping suddenly in your case) you should deaddicted after consulting doctor with help of medicines. In my opinion you should undergo ultrasound abdomen for alcohol liver disease as well as serum billirubin and SGPT level to check how much damage has been occurred until now. Quitting drinking will help for sure to stop progress of damage to liver and overall health and depending upon damage may help to reduce damage with help of supportive medicines.Yes stopping alcohol can prevent or treat ascites. Weight 198 pound and height 5'8'' suggest BMI 29.4 which shows obesity. Obesity is risk factor for hypertension and diabetes. Your ideal weight should not be more than 165 pounds. Start exercise and try to reduce weight. Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further. Regards, Dr.Chintan Solanki.