Beer and belly

• Is beer to blame for the expanded waistlines among men and women? Scores of research studies have been conducted on this subject. Although some studies have shown a correlation between beer consumption and body weight, scientists are yet to point a finger at alcohol as the single cause of abdominal obesity
• Scientists are not sure whether unburnt beer calories can only find their way to the waistline

The euphemism used to be “public opinion” but now it is “beer belly”, “love handle” (for women), “muffin top”, “spare tyre”, “beer gut”… name it. The paunch has always been there. In some cultures, it is a symbol of good living. In others it is a manifestation of conspicuous consumption.

Whatever you call it, abdominal obesity is essentially accumulation of fat around the belly.

The protrusion is caused by deposition of fat around the abdomen or mid-section of the body. The fat comes from excess calories. The calorie is the unit used for measuring the energy derived from food.

The beer belly happens because of either eating excess food or eating foods high in calories such as fatty foods, refined carbohydrates, sugary beverages, and beer.

Fat derived from excess calories is deposited either below the skin (subcutaneous fat) and/or around the internal organs (visceral fat).

Visceral fat is the one that typically manifests itself as beer belly. Below are frequently asked questions about this gaining of girth.

Why is abdominal obesity more common in men than women?

Unlike women who store their flab in their arms, thighs, and sometimes buttocks, men prefer their blubber in their bellies. In the case of women, the fat in the “right” places bestows on them the curves that distinguish them from men, besides making them more attractive to men, which attraction ultimately has a role in the propagation of the human species.

Why is beer then routinely blamed for protruding bellies?

A key constituent in beer is alcohol, which is very high in calories. A gramme of alcohol contains approximately seven calories. Alcohol ranks second to fat in the amount of calories when compared to other macronutrients. A gramme of fat contains nine calories, while a gramme of carbohydrates contains four calories. In proteins, a gramme packs four calories.

Five hundred millilitres of beer with an alcohol percentage of 5 contains approximately 170 calories. Five beer bottles of 500ml gives a total of 850 calories. These calories are only derived from alcohol and do not include those from sugar in beer.

Combining beer calories with those from food, it is easy to exceed the daily recommended calorie intake of 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men.

Often, drinking beer leads to heightened appetite. In addition to eating large portions of food, foods washed down with alcohol are in most cases high in fat. Such foods include nyama choma, sausages, fried chicken and chips — the last being a favourite of Kenyan girls.

Beer can also lead to a knock-on effect by causing a drop in blood sugar levels, which leads to lethargy. Lethargy leads to reduced activity, which implies that less calories are burned. The burning of less calories increases the likelihood of accumulation of fat, hence the pot belly.

How do I measure my belly and what are the safe readings?

The most accurate method to measure the amount of fat in the body is either by use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT). These methods are expensive and require qualified personnel and sophisticated equipment.

A quick and simpler method is to measure the waist line using a tape measure. This is done by measuring the waist line at the navel (in inches).

According to experts, a waist line exceeding 35 inches (35cm) for women and 40 inches (101cm) for men should trigger alarm bells. Such large waist line circumferences are clear indications of abdomen obesity and are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses.