Case study on Obesity: A 19-year-old female college student sought medical help because she was 30 kg overweight. Most of her excess weight was in the form of adipose tissue. A medical history revealed that her diet was extremely poor. She consumed virtually no vegetables, whole grains or legumes. Much of her caloric intake was comprised of simple carbohydrates - crackers, white rice, white bread, pastries, desserts, soft drinks, and beer. However, her dietary fat intake was actually quite moderate.

 

1.    How might alcohol consumption contribute to her excess weight?

 

Alcohol consumption contribution to excess weight.

Aside from the immediate influence on appetite that consumption of alcohol brings, it also affects energy storage in the body. Alcohol also leads to inhibition of oxidation of fat, which suggests that frequently consuming alcohol could lead to sparing of fat and hence leading to higher fats in the body in the long term.

Alcohol has various ways in which it contributes to weight gain;

• It stops the body from burning fat.
• It is high in kilojoules.
• It makes one to feel hungry.
• It leads to poor food choices.

Gaining weight from alcohol mostly depends on what one drinks , how much they drink, how often they drink, what they eat when they drink and their unique body and life style.

The adipose tissue that is mostly found surrounding the internal organs all over the body or even under the skin is the main area of deposition of all the fat that have not been oxidized. This may lead to obesity due to excessive fat in the body which leads to excessive weight gain.