scholarly journals Estimating how extra calories from alcohol consumption are likely an overlooked contributor to youth obesity

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 194-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Battista ◽  
Scott T. Leatherdale

Introduction Youth obesity rates in Canada continue to rise. In this study, we produced conservative estimates of the potential excess calories from alcohol use across different alcohol consumption patterns common among Canadian youth to assess whether alcohol use should be considered in future obesity prevention strategies. Methods Using data from 10 144 Grade 12 students participating in the COMPASS study (2013/14), we estimated the number of calories consumed per year from alcohol consumption. Our estimates were based on three different generic types of alcoholic beverages, which were grouped according to average calorie content (vodka coolers; beer [5%]; and beer [4%], wine and liquor) across different frequencies of alcohol use and binge drinking. Results Results indicated high potential caloric intake for students who binge drank, as well as high variability in the estimates for calories consumed based on common consumption patterns for the different beverage types. For instance, 27.2% of students binge drank once per month, meaning they consumed between 6000 and 13 200 calories in one year (equivalent to 0.78 – 1.71 kg of fat). For the 4.9% of students who binge drank twice per week, the total calories in one year would range from 52 000 to 114 400 (equivalent to 6.74 – 14.83 kg of fat). Conclusion Current recommendations for preventing youth obesity do not generally include any consideration of alcohol use. The high prevalence of frequent alcohol consumption and binge drinking by youth in this study and the substantial number of calories contained in alcoholic beverages suggest alcohol use among youth may warrant consideration in relation to youth obesity prevention.

Author(s):  
Minkyung Kang ◽  
Ari Min ◽  
Haeyoung Min

Gender differences in alcohol use have narrowed over the decades. This study aimed to explore changes in alcohol consumption patterns between 2007 and 2016 to identify gender convergence in alcohol use in Korea. Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. For all respondents (41,662 girls/women and 32,041 boys/men) aged ≥12 years, lifetime drinking, current drinking, age of drinking onset, heavy alcohol use, and binge drinking were analyzed. Gender differences in heavy alcohol use and binge drinking decreased from 2007 to 2016 (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The prevalence of heavy alcohol use and binge drinking decreased in boys/men (67.5% to 63.9%, p = 0.001; 63.4% to 60.9%, p = 0.001, respectively), but not in girls/women (50.2% to 50.4%, p = 0.279; 30.6% to 32.0%, p = 0.994, respectively). The proportion of lifetime abstainers decreased among both girls/women (24.3% to 19.1%, p < 0.001) and boys/men (12.1% to 9.7%, p = 0.01). In girls/women, the mean age of drinking onset decreased (from 24.1 to 23.6 years, p = 0.017); however, in boys/men, significant changes were not observed (from 18.9 to 18.7 years, p = 0.307). Healthcare providers should be aware of the growing health risks resulting from increased unhealthy alcohol use in women and develop gender-specific preventive interventions.


Author(s):  
Marisa Patrizia Messina ◽  
Alessio D'Angelo ◽  
Rosaria Ciccarelli ◽  
Fabiola Pisciotta ◽  
Luigi Tramonte ◽  
...  

Objective: Alcohol affects many human systems and is involved in the pathogenesis of other diseases. Particular attention must be paid to alcohol consumption among young people. It has been shown that 25% of young people’s deaths are attributable to alcohol, and around 35 million people aged over 11 had consumed at least one alcoholic beverage in 2015. Study Design: Young people aged 18–24 were the most vulnerable to binge drinking in Italy, and 50.6% of teenagers drunk alcohol. Only a few studies in the literature have investigated those habits in university students. This study aims to examine alcohol use habits in a population of university students in Italy. Methods: Between 2018 and 2019, an anonymous online questionnaire was randomly sent to university students from 17 different universities in a network of research centres to study alcohol use disorders. The survey included socio-demographic information, questions about alcohol use, knowledge about alcohol consumption, and related risks. Used questionnaires were the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) and the Drinking Motive Questionnaire-Revised (DMQ-R). Results: the AUDIT-C revealed that 53.3% of students were high-risk drinkers. Regarding binge drinking habits, 13.1% of students admitted to binge drinking behavior at least once a month. In our sample, male students are more likely to be low-risk drinkers than female peers (p < 0.008). Students from northern Italy are more likely to be high-risk drinkers (p = 0.003). Beer (65.9%) and wine (60.9%) were the most consumed alcoholic beverages. The most common places to drink alcohol were pubs (85.5%). The most likely motivations to drink alcohol were enhancement (40.43%), social (38.39%), coping (15.63%), and social pressure or conformity (5.55%). Only 43.8% of participants reported having attended an educational course on alcohol. Conclusions: University students were not fully aware of the implications of alcohol misuse and will be part of the adult society as critical figures and future leaders. It is imperative to inform students about alcohol consumption risks and investigate the motivations to drink. Stress, anxiety, and social pressure are only a few issues young people are exposed to. Special attention must be paid to young people and their coping strategies that involve substance abuse by using educative, preventive, and motivational approaches.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 63-69
Author(s):  
Simone D. Holligan ◽  
Wei Qian ◽  
Margaret de Groh ◽  
Ying Jiang ◽  
Scott T. Leatherdale

Introduction This study examined the associations of micro-level factors with current alcohol use and binge drinking among a large sample of Canadian youth. Methods This descriptive-analytical study was conducted among high school students enrolled in the COMPASS study between 2012/13 and 2017/18. We used generalized estimating equations modelling to determine associations between micro-level factors and likelihood of current versus non-current alcohol use and binge drinking among respondents. Results Students reporting current cannabis use were more likely to report current alcohol use over never use (odds ratio [OR] = 4.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.33–4.60) compared to students reporting non-current cannabis use. Students reporting current smoking of tobacco products were more likely to report current binge drinking over never binge drinking (OR = 2.52, 95% CI: 2.45–2.58), compared to non-smoking students. Students reporting weekly disposable incomes of more than $100 were more likely to report current over never binge drinking (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 2.09–2.19), compared to students reporting no weekly disposable income. Conclusion Higher disposable incomes, smoking of tobacco products and use of cannabis were associated with current alcohol use and binge drinking among youth. Findings may inform design of polysubstance use prevention efforts in high schools.


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 12-21
Author(s):  
Luis A. Valdez ◽  
Melanie L. Bell ◽  
David O. Garcia

Background and Purpose: Inadequate working and living conditions are associated with alcohol consumption in farmworkers in the U.S. However, the influence of these factors on alcohol consumption patterns in migrant farmworkers in Mexico remains unclear. The purpose of this analysis was to assess the influence of housing and working conditions on alcohol use in migrant farmworkers in Mexico. Methods: We used logistic and ordinal logistic regression to examine the association of living and working conditions on alcohol consumption and frequency in 3,132 farmworkers in Mexico with data from a Mexican national farmworker’s survey. Results: Living in inadequately built homes (OR=0.84; 95% CI=0.72, 0.98; p


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna M Buchanan ◽  
Surya Mundluru ◽  
James H O’Keefe ◽  
Kimberly J Reid ◽  
Fengmeng Tang ◽  
...  

Background: Prior studies show light to moderate alcohol use is associated with reduced mortality and cardiovascular events, whereas heavy use increases mortality and cardiovascular risks. The association of alcohol use and post-myocardial infarction (MI) symptoms is unknown. We explored the association between alcohol use and risk of having angina 1 year after an MI. Methods: Upon enrollment in the 19-center prospective PREMIER registry, acute MI patients (n=2481) were asked about alcohol use. Angina (any vs. none) was assessed at 1 year with the Seattle Angina Questionnaire. The association of alcohol use and 1-year angina was modeled using a hierarchical multivariable modified Poisson regression model. Results: Overall, 47% reported never drinking and others reported having the following # of drinks/day: 42% < 1; 6% 1 to 2; 3% > 2 to 4; 2% > 4. After adjusting for demographic, clinical, and treatment variables, patients that reported never drinking were 45% more likely to have angina than moderate drinkers (1 to 2 drinks/day). However, > drinks/day was associated with an 81% greater risk of angina than moderate alcohol use. Those drinking < 1 drink/day or > 2 to 4 per day had similar angina risk compared to moderate drinkers. Results did not vary by gender (p > .05 for interaction). Conclusions: This study extends prior evidence of a dose-dependent relationship between alcohol use and other cardiovascular benefits/risks to post-MI angina. Moderate alcohol consumption (1 to 2 drinks/day) was associated with reduced risk of angina 1 year after MI compared to abstinence or heavy alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol use (>4 drinks/day) was associated with increased risk of angina.


2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-37
Author(s):  
Stephen Scroggins ◽  
Enbal Shacham

Abstract This study aimed to identify differences in condom use among adolescents by alcohol consumption patterns using the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Results suggest significant increased risk of condomless sex among binge drinking youth. Surprisingly, no significant difference in condom utilization was identified between non-drinkers and only moderate drinkers. Findings highlight the need to tailor STI preventative measures accordingly.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Rimpelä ◽  
P Lindfors ◽  
J M Kinnunen ◽  
A H Katainen

Abstract Background Adolescents’ alcohol use and binge drinking decreased in Finland since 2001 while the proportion of those who did not drink, increased until 2017. The 2018 Alcohol Act (entered 1 March) allowed retail stores sell all alcoholic beverages containing up to 5.5% alcohol by volume (previously 4.7%, beer and cider). Alcopops, assumed popular among adolescents, are now available in retail stores for those ≥18 years. We study changes in adolescents’ alcohol use and type of alcohol beverages until 2019. Methods Data from Adolescent Health and Lifestyle Survey (AHLS) has been collected biennially from nationally representative samples of 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-year-old Finnish adolescents. The data collection of the 2019 survey is going on and continues until June. Approximately two thirds of the expected responses (N = 2666) has arrived by the end April. Results According to our preliminary results, among girls abstinence slightly decreased from 2017 to 2019 and the increasing trend levelled off. Among boys, abstinence stayed at the same level from 2017 to 2019 among 12- and 14-year olds, decreased among 16-year-olds and increased among 18-year-olds. The decrease in monthly alcohol use had levelled off in 2017 and the use stayed approximately on the same level in 2019 as in 2017. Changes in type of alcoholic beverages will be ready in June and will be presented in the conference. Conclusions One year after the liberalisation of the Alcohol Act, no increase in adolescent alcohol use was observed, but the decreasing trend seems to have levelled off, while a small decrease in the proportion of those who do not drink at all seems likely. Key messages In a short run under-aged alcohol use has not increased after the liberalisation of the Alcohol Act. However, abstinence has slightly decreased.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1576-1581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pooja Agrawal ◽  
Andrew Mercer ◽  
Jamila Hassanali ◽  
Chakema Carmack ◽  
Darleesa Doss ◽  
...  

Purpose: We examined differences in the association between alcohol use and sedentary behavior by gender among adults. Design: Cross-sectional study that employs a complex, multistage stratified probability cluster sample design. Setting: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007 to 2014. Participants: NHANES participants aged ≥20 years and identifying as Hispanic, white, or black (N = 18 441). Measures: Demographic characteristics, sedentary behavior, and alcohol consumption. Sedentary behavior was measured based on the number of minutes of sedentary activity per week. Alcohol consumption in the last year was measured based on responses to items assessing whether the participant consumes alcoholic beverages and the number of alcoholic beverages consumed on average. Analysis: Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to estimate associations of alcohol use with categories of sedentary behavior by gender. Results: Compared to women who reported not consuming alcohol, women who were heavy drinkers were significantly more likely to engage in high sedentary activity (odds ratio [OR]: 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-1.87), relative to low levels of sedentary activity. Similarly, women who were binge drinkers were more likely to engage in moderate levels of sedentary activity (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.05-1.85). There were no significant associations between alcohol use and sedentary activity among men. Conclusion: Findings suggest that alcohol consumption should be considered in health promotion efforts targeting sedentary behavior among women.


F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1149
Author(s):  
Kyaw-Min Htut ◽  
Chitlada Areesantichai ◽  
Myo-Myo Mon

Background: Alcohol consumption patterns vary widely across the regions of the world. Although previous studies have focused on the sexual risk behaviours among men who have sex with men (MSM), studies regarding binge alcohol drinking among MSM in Myanmar are scarce. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the alcohol consumption patterns among MSM aged over 18 years in two major cities of Myanmar where the MSM population is higher than other regions. Purposive sampling was applied and sampling was made through Myanmar MSM network. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire. Patterns of alcohol consumption were described as frequency/percentage and mean/median as appropriate. Bivariate analysis was also done to find out the association between types of MSM and binge drinking. Results: A total of 256 MSM included in the study (mean age, 27.33±7.7 years). Of 256 participants, 225 MSM had the experience of alcohol consumption in their lifetime (225/256, 87.9%). Among ever drinkers, 152 MSM consumed alcohol within three months (152/225, 67.6%). Regarding beer consumption, the highest proportions of MSM from both groups (42.8%, 36.8%) consumed 1-3 times per week. Overall, 57.2% of young MSM and 41.2% of adult MSM consumed beer together with their friends. Nearly 34% of young MSM and nearly 38% of adult MMS consumed beer at gatherings of friends. At different time periods, higher proportions of Thange (partners of MSM) had experienced of binge drinking than apwint (open) and apone (hidden) (p<0.05). Conclusions: The current study identified the alcohol consumption patterns in terms of type, amount, frequency at different time periods among MSM in major cities of Myanmar. It is suggested to develop and implement alcohol control policy for MSM since the proportion of current drinkers as well as binge drinking higher among these groups.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 298-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone D. Holligan ◽  
Katelyn Battista ◽  
Margaret de Groh ◽  
Ying Jiang ◽  
Scott T. Leatherdale

Introduction This study investigates the influence of age at first use of alcohol on current alcohol use and associated behaviours in a large sample of Canadian youth. Methods This descriptive-analytical study was conducted among Ontario Grade 12 students enrolled in the COMPASS Host Study between 2012 and 2017. We used generalized estimating equations (GEE) modelling to determine associations between age at first alcohol use and likelihood of current versus non-current alcohol use, binge drinking and mixing of alcohol with energy drinks among respondents. Results Students reporting an age at first alcohol use between ages 13 and 14 years were more likely to report current alcohol use versus non-current use (OR = 2.80, 95% CI: 2.26–3.45) and current binge drinking versus non-current binge drinking (OR = 3.22, 95% CI: 2.45–4.25) compared to students reporting first alcohol use at age 18 years or older. Students who started drinking at 8 years of age or younger were more likely to report current versus non-current alcohol use (OR = 3.54, 95% CI: 2.83–4.43), binge drinking (OR = 3.99, 95% CI: 2.97–5.37), and mixing of alcohol with energy drinks (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.23–4.14), compared to students who started drinking at 18 years or older. Conclusion Starting to drink alcohol in the early teen years predicted current alcohol use, current binge drinking and mixing of alcohol with energy drinks when students were in Grade 12. Findings indicate a need for development of novel alcohol prevention efforts.


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