Relationship between obesity in Korean adolescents and the frequency of alcohol consumption, the amount of alcohol consumed, and the frequency of severe alcohol intoxication

SummaryThe purpose of this study is to determine whether the frequency of alcohol consumption, the amount of alcohol consumed, and the frequency of severe alcohol intoxication are related with obesity in Korean adolescents. In 2009, 72,399 students from the 7th to 12th grades participated in the 5th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS-V) project. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess whether body mass index (BMI) was associated with the frequency of alcohol consumption, the amount of alcohol consumed, and the frequency of severe alcohol intoxication, after controlling for covariate variables such as age, parent's education level, household economic status, frequency of vigorous and moderate physical activities, and frequency of muscular strength exercises during the week, sedentary lifestyle during the week, mental stress, and sleep duration. No relationship was observed between the frequency of alcohol consumption and body weight in adolescents. However, for boys, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) between becoming overweight and the amount of alcohol consumed was 0.678 (range, 0.534–0.862; p = 0.002) for 2 to <3 bottles of beer and 0.810 (range, 0.674–0.973; p = 0.025) for 3 to <4 bottles of beer. The odds ratio (95% CI) between becoming obese and the amount of alcohol consumed was 0.794 (range, 0.653–0.964; p = 0.020) for 3 to <4 bottles of beer and that between becoming obese and the frequency of severe alcohol intoxication was 0.758 (range, 0.598–0.959; p = 0.021) when alcohol was consumed 1–2 times per month. For girls, the odds ratio (95% CI) between becoming overweight and the amount of alcohol consumed was 0.752 (range, 0.579–0.978; p = 0.033) for 3 to <4 bottles of beer and that between becoming obese and the amount of alcohol consumed was 1.753 (range, 1.033–2.972; p = 0.037) for ≥4 bottles of beer. We conclude that there is no relationship between the frequency of alcohol consumption and becoming overweight or obese. Although weight gain and obesity in boys and girls due to moderate consumption of alcohol are less prevalent, high alcohol consumption can increase weight gain in girls.