Breaking News: The Truth About Beer and Belly Fat
Published on June 7, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Debunking the Myth: Beer and Belly Fat
Let’s get straight to the point: beer does contain calories, but a half brings about 150 calories, against 110 for a glass of red wine. The difference is not as vast as you might think. So why the bad reputation? Matthieu Marty, a doctoral student in physiology of exercise and nutrition, helps us demystify this common belief.
It’s Not the Beer, It’s the Lifestyle
“Unlike popular beliefs, there is no direct link between beer consumption and the accumulation of abdominal fat,” says Matthieu Marty. This assertion is backed by solid scientific studies, including the 2009 Epic-Potsdam study, which found no specific correlation between beer and the waistline.
If some people who drink beer have belly fat, it is linked to a global weight gain due to alcohol, not beer itself. As our expert sums up, “It is not beer that makes the flop.”
Why the Confusion?
“Several factors explain this tenacious received idea,” continues the nutritionist. “First, we often confuse correlation and causality. It is not because two phenomena appear together that they are necessarily linked by a cause and effect relationship,” he continues.
Weight gain always results from a combination of factors: an unbalanced diet, lack of physical activity, social and psychological context, and of course, excessive alcohol consumption. The ‘beer bide’ reflects a global lifestyle rather than the consumption of a particular drink.
The Deceptive Effect of Ascites
In some extreme cases, what we take for a “beer drinker belly” is actually an ascite. “Ascites is an abnormal accumulation of liquid in the abdominal cavity, most often caused by an advanced liver pathology, such as alcohol-related cirrhosis,” explains Matthieu Marty.
It is therefore not the beer itself that swells the belly, but a serious complication that disturbs the liver blood circulation and causes excessive pressure in the abdomen. The ‘ascite belly’ is thus a symptom of severe liver damage, and not a direct consequence of beer consumption,” concludes the specialist.
Bubbles and Belly Fat
Let us not forget the effect of carbon dioxide, which can distend the stomach and give this swollen belly feeling. Beer is therefore not the nutritional devil that we sometimes portray. As with everything, it is a question of moderation and lifestyle. Replacing beer with another alcohol will not solve weight problems.
