Does wine cause weight gain if a person drinks three glasses each night? Are any particular types of wine lower in sugar and less likely to cause weight gain? Thanks,

-- Shanie

Wine, like any type of alcohol, contains extra calories that our bodies don't typically use for energy. The calories from alcohol are easily stored as body fat, which then causes weight gain. Sweeter wines are higher in sugar and thus have more calories than dry wines. The higher the alcohol content of a wine, the higher the calories.

Not only does wine itself contain calories, but most people also snack on foods higher in fat when drinking wine. Those snacks may also contribute to weight gain. Alcohol does tend to increase appetite, so you may find yourself drinking wine and eating more than you had intended.

Health experts recommend that women drink no more than 4-5 ounces of wine a day and men no more than 8-10 ounces. Some researchers believe that even 4 ounces of wine a day may increase risk of breast cancer for some women. On the other hand, it also appears that 4-5 ounces of red wine a day may help decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. At any rate, no one is recommending more than 4-5 ounces of wine per day for women, no matter what reason you have for drinking it.

Sincerely,
Lynn Grieger, R.D., C.D., C.D.E.