| Author (Person) | Banks, Martin |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.9, No.34, 16.10.03, p6 |
| Publication Date | 16/10/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Martin Banks Date: 16/10/03 IT'S the news that drinkers have been longing to hear - there is no significant relationship between beer consumption and body weight. Research in the Czech Republic, which boasts the highest per capita beer consumption in the world, used data from 891 men and 1,098 women aged between 25 and 64 who were either non-drinkers or drank exclusively beer. They compared their body-mass index (a measure of fat) and waist-hip ratio, which measures so-called "beer bellies". The team concluded there was no significant link between beer drinking and beer bellies - and female beer drinkers tended to weigh less, rather than more, than those who do not. The findings were unveiled at a symposium in Brussels yesterday (15 October), organized by the Brewers of Europe industry organization, which has asked scientists to review the relationship between beer and health. The symposium heard that light to moderate beer drinking can protect against cardiovascular disease and diabetes. But the alleged medical benefits of beer were attacked by Eurocare, a Brussels-based alliance of 55 EU-wide NGOs studying the impact of Union policy on health. Its secretary, Derek Rutherford, said: "It is absurd to treat alcohol as a health food. There is no scientific justification to encourage the overall consumption of alcohol in the population." A report by the European beer industry organisation, The Brewers of Europe, claims that drinking beer in moderation has many positive health benefits. |
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| Subject Categories | Health |
