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Does Wine Make You Fat?

Posted Fri, Feb 15, 2008, 11:01 am PST
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No. The good news is that moderate (there's that word again) wine drinking most definitely does not make you gain weight.  Wine has no sodium, so retaining water weight is unlikely. Wine has no cholesterol, so your arteries are safe. And wine has no fat, so your derrière is safe. According to an article published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, moderate wine drinkers tend to be slimmer than folks who drink absolutely no alcohol. 

Wine does have calories due to ethyl alcohol and varying degrees of sugar--sweeter wines have more calories than bone-dry wines. An average 5 oz. glass of wine has about 110 to 120 calories. Compare that to a whopping 770 calories for that Starbucks el grande Strawberry and Crème Frappuccino, which is like eating three McDonalds hamburgers in one sitting. 

I know I look and feel my best when I drink a bit of morning coffee with my orange juice, lots and lots of water throughout the day, and a glass or two of wine in the evening, as opposed to the nineteen or so daily Diet Cokes that my roommate and I used to go through at school. Damn that dining hall addiction!

During the height of the Atkins/South Beach/low-carb diet craze, some yucky wine products popped up like Beringer's "White Lie" chardonnay for women, which promised to be lower in calories and alcohol. I hate products like these for two reasons: they taste crappy and they're patronizing to women.  How about real wine for all, consumed sensibly?  Now that's a diet strategy we can all feel good about in 2008!   

  • 1. Posted by hersheykissesrockstar on Fri, May 09, 2008, 7:54 am PDT

    This is so good to know! I'll change over from my cocktails to a glass of wine. That'll do the trick. :)

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  • 2. Posted by loulnaav.luna on Fri, May 09, 2008, 8:14 am PDT

    Awesome! I thought it was bad in the long run..

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  • 3. Posted by kitty on Fri, May 09, 2008, 8:15 am PDT

    i stop drinking cocktails about 3 months ago and now i only drink wine and im on the atkins diet i lost 40 pounds so far and i feel great!! wine is been really good for me

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  • 4. Posted by lbs1910 on Fri, May 09, 2008, 8:20 am PDT

    lell

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  • 5. Posted by skepticoftruelove on Fri, May 09, 2008, 8:20 am PDT

    That's great to know, I love drinking wine but I had recently stopped due to my new healthy way of eating and living. Everything that I have read alway recommend not to drink wine but I guess a glass or two here and there won't hurt...Thanks again.

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  • 6. Posted by lbs1910 on Fri, May 09, 2008, 8:20 am PDT

    lell

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  • 7. Posted by shelterdog1 on Fri, May 09, 2008, 8:21 am PDT

    I was told by my Oncologist that red wine is good for your red blood count & was told to drink 1 glass a day during Chemotherapy. I've heard it it also good for your bones & a few mens magazines have mentioned Heart health benefits as well. But you need to keep the limit to 1 or 2 glasses.

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  • 8. Posted by MOTY on Fri, May 09, 2008, 8:28 am PDT

    I have to give up wine and alchohol because it leads to me eating too much!! My fault though, not the wines!

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  • 9. Posted by somethingaboutannie on Fri, May 09, 2008, 8:38 am PDT

    Many people have the notion that when you drink wine, you'll get fat. This article, thank God, has clarified this notion. I love wine and I've always thought of it as therapeutic. It's great to have after a stressful day - it calms my nerves, and a good social drink (of course, in moderation always). Cheers!

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  • 10. Posted by Nam N on Fri, May 09, 2008, 8:40 am PDT

    Awesome article. I would emphasize the word "moderate". I have a friend that drinks one to two bottles in a sitting and she continually tells me that it's not the wine making her fat... Sorry... in indulgent cases, it is the wine.... Oh and speaking of fat, this article may help people as well - http://www.dailyher.com/2007/08/what-makes-u-fat.html

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  • 11. Posted by mbouffant on Fri, May 09, 2008, 8:50 am PDT

    I think a few things have been left out of this article. How about the carbohydrate content of wine? Carbs turn into sugar...they're not good carbs either, which is why alcohol can sabotage diets with its empty calories. Also, wine (and other alcohol) slows your metabolism. That being said, I love my wine. What is considered "moderate" comsumption for women is down to one glass of wine, one 12-oz beer, or one 1.5-oz shot of hard alcohol a day.

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  • 12. Posted by Sabrina on Fri, May 09, 2008, 8:50 am PDT

    Yeah! I love wine...especially champagne and cabernet sauvignon :) this is indeed good news lol

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  • 13. Posted by chibutterfly76 on Fri, May 09, 2008, 8:52 am PDT

    Most of the time when you are out dining or at a bar and you see someone drinking wine, they are usually never obese. I first read that in a magazine, and paid more attention to my surroundings, when out and I haven't seen an obese person drinking this choice of cocktail since.

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  • 14. Posted by Bill on Fri, May 09, 2008, 9:07 am PDT

    What if you do drink a bottle of wine or more a day? How does that effect your weight?

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  • 15. Posted by gimara33 on Fri, May 09, 2008, 9:12 am PDT

    I drink 2 bottles a day and I'm not fat.

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  • 16. Posted by gimara33 on Fri, May 09, 2008, 9:12 am PDT

    I drink 2 bottles a day and I'm not fat.

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  • 17. Posted by Zoroast on Fri, May 09, 2008, 9:14 am PDT

    wine is my favorite drink, but facts are facts: 1. I couldn't find that article in the European journal ...., but it could be a good example of being confused about causation and correlation. I mean moderate wine drinkers may have some other attributes that contributes to their being slimmer than non-drinkers. 2. It is correct that wine almost does not have sodium, cholesterol, and ... , but the pathways by which ethanol (alcohol in drinks) is metabolized in the body eventually leads to fat formation from carbohydrates in the body. That's how alcohol results in fatty changes in the liver and finally cirrhosis. It means even if you take enough pure alcohol (that does not have any sodium, cholesterol, ....) again excessive fat will be produced in your body and you will pay the consequence. But still wine remains my favorite drinks ;)

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  • 18. Posted by the_dude_dude_dude_dude on Fri, May 09, 2008, 9:26 am PDT

    Yeah and french fries when eaten in moderation dont clog your arteries. We read the articles that tell us what we want to hear. There are no health benefits to wiine. Perhaps it is healthier to drink wine over cocktails or soda or milkshakes but that is common sense. If you are serious about losing weight, and not many people are, you need to exercise and eat snaller portions than youdo today. You need to increase your veggies and drop all deserts. Remember, if you follow an approach of moderation then your helath gains and weight loss will only be moderate. You may be happy with only moderate improvements but dont fool yourself that you are going to be healthy if you eat 4 pieces of chocolate instead of 8.

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  • 19. Posted by mybloodyvalentine282 on Fri, May 09, 2008, 9:30 am PDT

    Please girls...if I don't drink my wine, I'm a feisty one, fat or no fat. Do you know what I mean?

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  • 20. Posted by KD on Fri, May 09, 2008, 10:00 am PDT

    oh yea! Cent'anni!

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  • 21. Posted by ღ♫´`*♥Wine♥*´`♫ ღ on Fri, May 09, 2008, 10:05 am PDT

    my name looks crazy! pass the glass, lovers.

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  • 22. Posted by Sir D on Fri, May 09, 2008, 10:06 am PDT

    It is not true that alcoholic beverages are not fattening. When your body ingests fat, it breaks it down to a molecule (acetyl-CoA) which is then reassembled into storage fat. Your body also breaks down alcohol to acetyl-CoA, which is then reassembled to storage fat. Thus, your body "sees" fat and ethanol as equivalent.

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  • 23. Posted by mercedes380sl1@verizon.net on Fri, May 09, 2008, 10:10 am PDT

    II always thought that wine was fattening. I am so glad to read all of these comments that they are not. I also heard that red wine is much better for you than white wine. Any comments on this?

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  • 24. Posted by triton1222 on Fri, May 09, 2008, 10:14 am PDT

    What about Vodka, Does it make you fat?

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  • 25. Posted by monrea on Fri, May 09, 2008, 10:21 am PDT

    moderation. it's all about moderation. when I've tried to give up my red wine I'm a royal b*&%$. Drink my wine, I'm happy. And my weight doesn't change. Because I don't eat too much of anything!

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  • 26. Posted by jspringator on Fri, May 09, 2008, 10:29 am PDT

    I'm thinking vodka and green tea is the perfect drink!

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  • 27. Posted by irwind76 on Fri, May 09, 2008, 10:39 am PDT

    It is a simple equation!!! Burn more calories than you take in!!! Even if you drink five glasses of wine approx. 550 k/cal, and our food consumption is 1500 k/cal, totals 2050 k/cal. Now we do the math, metobolic burn =1600 k/cal 30 min aerobic execise = 700 k/cal total 2300 k/cal. are you with me so far??? Now we figure that 3500 k/cal = 1 lb body weight either burned or stored. If It is not the wine or food making people fat it is their bad eating and drinking habits!!! People forget that weight loss is this simple equation. I don't care if is the adkins diet, southbeach, what ever!!! This is why you either gain weight, or lose weight.

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  • 28. Posted by Veronica S on Fri, May 09, 2008, 10:45 am PDT

    Great To know.....I love Wine

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  • 29. Posted by hdf150mom on Fri, May 09, 2008, 10:55 am PDT

    All alcohol has calories, it's what you mix with them that makes them worse. A margarita has a TON of calories because of the sweet & sour miix or margarita mix. But if you make an original one, with fresh lime juice, tequila and a little orange liqueur, you will cut out many of the calories. That's why light beer has fewer calories; it has less alcohol.

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  • 30. Posted by slo_hunter on Fri, May 09, 2008, 11:05 am PDT

    Lips that touch wine shall never touch mine dear

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