Does Drinking Alcohol Give You A Poor Appetite?

Many people enjoy an alcoholic drink, whether your preference is beer, wine or hard liquor. However, the key is moderation, according to MayoClinic.com; women may have up to one drink a day and men may have two. Aside from the risk of intoxication and alcoholism, alcohol has some negative health benefits, such as increasing the risk of some cancers. Alcohol also has a stimulant effect on appetite.

Alcohol and Energy Intake

A French study published in the September 2001 “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” found that as alcohol intake increased, so did energy intake, meaning total calories. Researchers found that the women in the study who had a higher alcohol intake ate more animal products, cheese, potatoes, oil, bread and breakfast cereals. Alcohol consumption of 8 to 16 grams a day -- close to or slightly more than one drink of hard liquor -- caused an increased calorie intake.

Alcohol and Food Intake

In a study that focused on men, researchers reported in the October 2001 issue of “Physiology and Behavior” that alcohol consumption increased energy intake by 30 percent, even though the test subjects did not report an increase in appetite. The researchers concluded that alcohol stimulates appetite. A similar report in the August 2004 issue of the “British Journal of Nutrition” noted that alcohol ingestion within one hour of a meal results in an increased food intake.

Alcohol Affects What You Eat

The amount of alcohol you drink affects not only how much you eat but what you eat. In a study reported in the March 2004 issue of “Physiology and Behavior,” researchers gave male test subjects no-alcohol lager plain and with varying quantities of alcohol added. Participants who drank 32 grams of alcohol -- the equivalent of three drinks of hard liquor -- ate more high-fat, salty food and more total calories than those who had less or no alcohol.

Wine as an Aperitif

If you drink wine as an aperitif, it has a greater effect on appetite than if you drink it with a meal. Research reported in the February 2007 issue of “Physiology and Behavior” found that men who were given wine as an aperitif consumed more calories at the meal and over the next three days than study participants who did not drink wine. Test subjects who drank wine with the meal also had higher calorie intakes but not as high as those who had the wine as an aperitif.

Considerations and Warnings

There is no evidence that alcohol decreases your appetite; instead, alcohol intake increases appetite. The evidence also indicates that a higher alcohol consumption tends to lead to less-healthy eating. If you don't currently drink alcohol, MayoClinic.com recommends that you don't start. If you have a diminished appetite, it could indicate a medical problem. Consult a doctor for any appetite problems you are experiencing.