Drinkers exercise more than teetotallers

Thursday, September 10, 2009

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We all know a few virtuous teetotallers who inevitably (if not purposefully) make us feel just that tad hedonistic not to mention unhealthy. However research released this week from the U.S. government suggests that those who drink alcohol tend to be more active.

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Researchers found that in general the time people devoted to exercise correlated with the number of units consumed on a monthly basis.

In comparison to abstainers, those who had approximately 40 drinks a month exercised for an average of 20 minutes longer per week while who drank between 15-40, worked-out 10 minutes more.

For the party goers out there don't get too excited, the findings to not mean that alcohol is the key to a healthy active life by any means.

Leader of the study Dr Michael T. French of the University of Miami told Reuters that ,‘ we certainly would not advocate that abstainers should start drinking as a way to increase their exercise.’

A potential explanation for the findings, French stated, was that drinkers may use exercise as away to shave off the calories consumed on a night out.

Moderate alcohol consumption has, in other studies, proven to have some other health benefits including the reduced risk of heart disease.

The take home message of course being drink sensibly and safely.

YOUR SAY: Do you exercise to make up for the alcohol you consume?

User reviews

I choose not to drink, and I'm tired of been made to feel less because of my choice. All these research projects that are done into why drinking a moderate amount of alcohol is better than abstaining just leaves me feeling that people are trying to come up with reasons to justify to themselves why they should drink. Now I don't have a problem with people who decide to drink moderately (just don’t over do it). But this sounds like the arguments why smoking or doing drunks are good for you. Why doesn’t someone do a research on the benefits of not drinking at all over having an odd drink or the problems associated with even have even 1 drink? BTW I am very selective who I offer to drive home cause of the abuse I have received from "friends" who have only had a couple of drink or the mess I have been left to clean up. Why should the non-drinker always be called the designated driver???

I think it might be because drinking is a big social aspect of most sporting clubs, especially here in Australia. I know im more likely to drink after a game of footy than if im sitting at home doing nothing.

I am a 23 year old drinker and as most do i hit the clubs and pubs nearly every Fri. and Sat. night. Ive been doing this for the past 5 years and i can tell you ive had some epic journeys mostly from Town Hall to Darling Harbour but sometimes even from central to Darling Harbour...its great exercise but i doubt it compensates for binge drinking once or twice a week.

You know what? Thinking about it like this, I probably do exercise more to compensate for my drinking. Maybe it's a guilt thing.

I don't drink very much at all but I tend to exercise a great deal because I like it and I want to do it, and because I care about my health. Hubby on the other hand drinks too much, exercises not at all, eats a lot of fatty foods and has the great big beer gut to prove it!!! The vast majority of people I know are big drinkers and big people, those that I know who drink very little to none are in much better shape indeed. So I reckon this report is definately not accurate, not by any stretch of the imagination!

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