Liver disease risk higher in overweight drinkers
19 March 2010
The risk of liver disease may be increased among regular alcohol drinkers if they are also overweight.
UK data shows that among women consuming 2.5 drinks per day, almost twice as many of those who are obese will develop liver cirrhosis (a condition that causes progressive liver scarring) compared to those of normal weight. Around 17 per cent of cirrhosis was attributable to excess body weight compared with 42 per cent attributable to alcohol, the authors said (BMJ 2010; in press).
Meanwhile data from cohort studies of 10,000 Scottish men reveals a similar picture: among those drinking 15 or more units of alcohol per week, the relative rates of liver disease mortality was 3 for normal weight men, 7 for overweight and 19 for obese men.
BMI-specific ‘safe’ limits of alcohol might need to be defined for the overweight, researchers suggested. (BMI = Body mass index)
Last Reviewed: 19 March 2010
- 1. Liu B, Balkwill A, Reeves G, Beral V. Body mass index and risk of liver cirrhosis in middle aged UK women: prospective study. BMJ 2010; 340: c912. Available at: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/mar11_1/c912
