I’ll drink to that!!!

So Dr. Manny “wisely” chooses to ignore any actual analysis or research in this article. Hey, lets all generalize and claim meaningless things like “a lot of research…” without any actual specifics. Lets instead list symptoms of obesity, how is that relevant in any way at all???

We have known for years that low or moderate alcohol consumption tends to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke, and prolongs life span. Physicians have been hesitant to suggest that nondrinkers take up the habit. We don’t want to be responsible for, or even accused of, turning someone into an alcoholic. We don’t want to be held accountable for someone else’s drunken acts. Every well-trained physician is quite aware of the ravages of alcohol use and abuse. We see them up close and personal in our patients.

A scientific study earlier this year, however, lends support to a middle-aged individual’s decision to start consuming moderate amounts of alcohol on a regular basis. It even provides a positive defense if a doctor recommends it to carefully selected patients.

Reference: King, Dana E., et al. Adopting Moderate Alchohol Consumption in Middle Age: Subsequent Cardiovascular Events. American Journal of Medicine, 121 (2008): 201-206.

In all fairness, other studies show no beneficial health or longevity benefit to alcohol consumption. But at this point, the majority of published studies support a beneficial effect.

-Steve

We have known for years that low or moderate alcohol consumption tends to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke, and prolongs life span. Physicians have been hesitant to suggest that nondrinkers take up the habit. We don’t want to be responsible for, or even accused of, turning someone into an alcoholic. We don’t want to be held accountable for someone else’s drunken acts. Every well-trained physician is quite aware of the ravages of alcohol use and abuse. We see them up close and personal in our patients.

A scientific study in 2008, however, lends support to a middle-aged individual’s decision to start consuming moderate amounts of alcohol on a regular basis. It even provides a positive defense if a doctor recommends it to carefully selected patients.

Reference: King, Dana E., et al. Adopting Moderate Alchohol Consumption in Middle Age: Subsequent Cardiovascular Events. American Journal of Medicine, 121 (2008): 201-206.

In all fairness, other studies show no beneficial health or longevity benefit to alcohol consumption. But at this point, the majority of published studies support a beneficial effect.

-Steve
http://AdvancedMediterraneanDiet.com/blog/

When I first read the article which you reference, I immediately began eagerly awaiting your predictable rebuttal. I am not an obese fast food junkie, first of all, so to me, your entire rebuttal was irrelevant. Neither am I a binge drinker. And yet, I am an American. My advice to you is to lighten up, and stop being a prune. I can now live with less anxiety knowing a drink or two may be beneficial to my health (I am going to have that drink or two anyway) so that alone should increase my life expectancy. Please take off work a little early one day this week, have a highball, go home and flirt with your wife all evening, fix her a drink or two, and the both of you have a wonderful night. Come back to work the next day and write a better article. (And good luck with the lady.)

I read the article on brest cancer risk and alcohol sometime last week. It struck me that the study group did not mention if the participants also smoked tobacco or took other drugs such as birth control pills and whatnot. Basically I am skeptical that this study represents a definitive result. I cannot recall reading any other studies supporting these findings.

So, it was a short article. I read it twice. What are you trying to say? Is alcohol the key to good health?

I see you like an occasional drink, but your stats are related to obesity..

Dr. Manny,

If America continues to battle with an epidemic of obesity despite our media’s obsession with health, then you may want to reconsider your thinking with regards to public health announcements. We need to move beyond this juvenile “it’s good for you” or “it’s bad for you” which limits us from having discussions about the all important nuances of health. Moreover, this approach ultimately promotes our, as you put it, fast food culture, because it precludes any discussion of the ultimate health principle: moderation. If it’s all good or all bad, then our only choice is between the glutton and the ascetic, which is why we are a nation of the anorexic and obese.

I drink 1-3 drinks every day. I also enjoy the occasional 99 cent McDonald’s burger, love dark beer oozing with carbohydrates, and sometimes eat and entire bag of marshmallows. That said, I exercise regularly, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and generally do all things, even my binging, in moderation. The results are telling. I am 26 years old, 5’10” 175 pounds 7% body fat. My resting blood pressure is 98 over 51 with a heart rate of 46bpm. My total triglycerides are around 100. My health is no more a paradox than the health of the French is. Moderation and a balanced approach is key.

Instead of telling Americans what you think they need to hear, maybe you should give them the facts and let them make their own decisions. At least that way you will be credible.

-Waylon M. Bryson

I’m a bit confused by this article. The author starts off discussing his issue with another article discussing the benefits of alcohol consumption. However, rather than giving any evidence to the contrary, he starts talking about a completely different topic that, to my knowledge, has little to no correlation to the topic at hand!

While I can agree that alcohol does contribute to obesity, it’s a major stretch to consider it the main cause of this obesity epidemic. Personally, I blame the technology boom. As a teacher, I find it amazing how many kids would rather sit at home on MySpace rather than go out and play a game or even go for a run.

Your Nutrition 101 course in college taught you about the J-curve in alcohol consumption – I thought that was fairly common knowledge?

Although obesity is addressed “as it relates to” alcohol consumption, I think generally speaking, Dr. Manny is right when it comes to “American” eating and drinking habits. I think as he stated, that an occasional drink or two is fine “in moderation”, but most…most Americans have horrible diets, don’t get enough sleep, smoke or are around smokers (not all, some), don’t get enough exercise, are too anxious, stressed, work too hard, depressed, etc… In those cases, I feel Dr. Manny is doing a public service to warn those that are at risk, that the dangers of alcohol consumption, if not moderated, aren’t going to do anyone any good at all. If one looks at the “Average” person out there at Bars, Restaurants etc…”most” look like they don’t need any more Booze! Maybe more veggies or some fruit to rid their bodies of all the toxins already in their bodies! Moderation…Moderation…Moderation! ( I know…shucks!) Well Done Dr. Manny!

Obesity tax!

In order to save national healthcare costs, we need to institute immediately a nationwide taxation on obesity.

All resturants, convience, and grocery stores should be required to measure each customers’ BMI (body mass index) against government recommended values. If said person is above the regulated BMI value, they should be required to pay an additional obesity tax on all food/beverage purchases. All foods deemed as potentially un-healthy should have an additional tax of 275.00$USD per pound for all purchasers to balance the fairness of the taxation to include all persons.

All obesity taxes raised will go to help fight obesity and obesity like dieseases in the united states and to help fund education programs and advertisements to fight this growing problem in America.

The idea of an obesity tax is absurd, and the BMI is a worthless indicator of fitness. Should Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt pay your tax? Both have a high BMI, along with 3/4 of the NBA, virtually all of the NFL, and most other non-endurance athletes. Frankly, why should we concern ourselves if other people want to be obese? I say want, because it is a choice. Eating all those addictive sweet foods might be the easy choice, but so is cheating on your girlfriend with the hot girl whose ready to go at the end of the bar or skipping class to go to the beach. Things of value, like health, involve tough decisions and discipline. America’s problem is that discipline is something we are sorely lacking, which is why we are a country of fat, pill poppers, facing a looming depression.

Excellent post Dr. Alvarez. Alcohol also increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. I think the point in bringing obesity into the discussion was to point out that many of us do not take care of ourselves, and many health problems relate to that. People look for a “quick fix,” like a pill or vitamin or supplement or even an alcoholic beverage, to improve their health. In other words, they want to fix their health by taking something rather than avoiding bad habits. Dr. Parker’s comments are also correct, but all the same, I wouldn’t recommend a patient start consuming alcohol for health benefits. Drinking in moderation is fine, as long as one doesn’t have a health condition that prohibits it.

The comments by Waylon M. Bryson do the public no good. He cites how good his personal health is currently. I applaud him for the exercise and fruits & veggies. But the alcohol comsumption of 1-3 drinks per day borders on alcohol abuse (not “moderation”) which for males is an average of 2 drinks per day. Mr. Bryson has every right to voice his opinion and live his life the way he wants. But perhaps he’s reconsider when he gets older and his metabolism slows down and he puts on weight or gets health problems from years of his alcohol comsumption. Then again, maybe he’ll be fine.

I could state a fact that most people who smoke do not get lung cancer. This is true. Does that mean it’s not unhealthy to smoke? Of course not. About 90% of lung cancer cases are in smokers.

Dr. Steven Parker,
Your response to my posts is terribly misleading. You say that my alcoholic consumption “borders on alcohol abuse,” but I fail to see how it is possibly “abusive” when it is not negatively affecting my emotional, financial, or physical wellbeing-nor that of my loved ones. I am an athlete and very attuned to my body, I also have regular physicals that confirm my state of health. It is fear mongering to insinuate that my alcohol consumption is somehow doing damage to my health and that if it doesn’t I am somehow like a smoker that dodged the cancer bullet. You say yourself that Dr. Parker’s comments are valid, but then try to discredit me when I offer up my life as a practical example of them.

I agree that alcohol consumption carries with it potential risks –risks that vary from person to person and that some shouldn’t consume at all. You are right in pointing out that plenty of people are looking for a “quick fix,” but these people are willing to delude themselves into thinking that a couple of drinks, a pill, or some other magic bullet is going to give them an ideal life. You worry that such individuals will see posts like mine as a pass to indulge; however, there is little we can do about such blatant stupidity. Such people will always selectively choose the information that makes them feel best about their bad choices.

Dr. Steven Parker,
Your response to my posts is terribly misleading. You say that my alcoholic consumption “borders on alcohol abuse,” but I fail to see how it is possibly “abusive” when it is not negatively affecting my emotional, financial, or physical wellbeing-nor that of my loved ones. I am an athlete and very attuned to my body, I also have regular physicals that confirm my state of health. It is fear mongering to insinuate that my alcohol consumption is somehow doing damage to my health and that if it doesn’t I am somehow like a smoker that dodged the cancer bullet -as if years of watching my diet and excercising weren’t relevant. You say yourself that Dr. Parker’s comments are valid, but then try to discredit me when I offer up my life as a practical example of them.

I agree that alcohol consumption carries with it potential risks –risks that vary from person to person and that some shouldn’t consume at all. You are right in pointing out that plenty of people are looking for a “quick fix,” but these people are willing to delude themselves into thinking that a couple of drinks, a pill, or some other magic bullet is going to give them an ideal life. You worry that such individuals will see posts like mine as a pass to indulge; however, there is little we can do about such blatant stupidity. Such people will always selectively choose the information that makes them feel best about their bad choices.

Dr. Steven Parker,
Your response to my posts is terribly misleading. You say that my alcoholic consumption “borders on alcohol abuse,” but I fail to see how it is possibly “abusive” when it is not negatively affecting my emotional, financial, or physical wellbeing-nor that of my loved ones. Also, the average of the sequence [1-3] is 2, which corresponds to the gov. definition of moderation that you site in your response. Do the math. As an athlete, I’m very attuned to my body. I also have regular physicals that confirm my good health. It’s fear mongering to insinuate that my alcohol consumption must be damaging my health and that if it doesn’t I am like a smoker that dodged the cancer bullet –as if years of eating right and exercise are irrelevant. You say that Dr. Parker’s comments are valid, but then try to discredit me when I offer up my life as a practical example of them.

I agree that alcohol consumption has potential risks –risks that vary from person to person and that some shouldn’t consume any. Certainly, plenty of people are looking for a “quick fix,” but these people are willing to delude themselves into thinking that a couple of drinks, a pill, or some other magic bullet is going to give them an ideal life. You worry that such individuals will see posts like mine as a pass to indulge; however, there is little we can do about such blatant stupidity. Such people will always selectively choose the information that makes them feel best about their bad choices.