Regular beer consumption does not contribute to the frequency of obesity. This has been shown by a survey among 10,000 Belgian families, the results of which were presented in November 1999 at the second Diet and Health Congress (1).

In 1997 the Scientific Institute for Public Health – Louis Pasteur did a national survey of health indicators among the Belgian population. The list of indicators researched concerned socio-economic factors, a subjective look at the person’s own health, the presence of (chronic) diseases, disabilities, AIDS, psychosocial factors, healthcare, lifestyle (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, accidents, diet), prevention (vaccinations, prevention of heart and circulatory disease and cancer) and access to healthcare.
This national health survey was complemented by a detailed questionnaire on diet by a group of researchers at the Limburg University Centre. A representative sample of 1000 people of between 50 and 70 years of age was set up for this survey. The participants completed the questionnaire with the help of their doctor. Then the study was coupled to the national health survey so that the researchers could consider the entire group when analysing the answers.

Results

More than 10% (11.2%) of adult Belgians have a body mass index of 30 or more: they are overweight or obese. The relative risk of obesity is lower in the group that consumed at least one alcoholic drink in the previous year in comparison to the group that did not drink any alcohol at all in the same period. But that does not of course demonstrate that beer drinking reduces the risk of obesity.
Various other factors can influence this relationship. The group that drinks beer now and again has more smokers, while more non-smokers are also non-drinkers. Furthermore, the percentage of obesity is greatest in the group of ex-smokers and in the group that does little or no physical activity. Other risk factors for obesity are diet behaviour, eating white bread instead of brown, a fat-rich diet, many milk products, consuming snacks or sugared drinks, and finally a lower level of education.
However, the research also allowed the influence of all the obesity risk factors mentioned to be excluded so that the influence of alcohol alone on body weight could be considered. Even in such a case, beer does not seem to have any influence on the development of obesity.

References
(1)Obesity, body mass index and beer consumption; JPH Janssens et al. Working group on Hormone Related Cancer, The European Cancer Prevention Organisation, dr. Willems Instituut, Limburgs Universitair Centrum

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