RESULTS:

After adjustment for age, education, smoking, energy intake and regular physical exercise, men who consumed> 60g/day of alcohol were more frequently obese compared with non-drinkers (OR= 2.26, 95% CI: 1.17–4.35). When considering lifetime alcohol consumption, the magnitude of the association was stronger in both women (OR= 2.41, 95% CI: 1.28–4.56) and men (OR= 4.22, 95% CI: 1.93–9.24). For central obesity, women consuming 15.1–30 g/day and> 30 g/day had higher probability of being obese, considering both current and lifetime alcohol consumption. In men, the same positive associations were observed, which were particularly stronger between lifetime alcohol consumption and central obesity (> 60g/day vs non-drinkers: OR= 4.02, 95% CI: 1.80–8.98).

CONCLUSION:

Independently of social and behavioural features, current and lifetime alcohol consumption were positively associated with overall and central obesity, in both women and men.