Alcohol-Attributable Calories Consumed as a Result of Binge Drinking: A National Survey of Drinkers in the United States

ABSTRACT

Aims: Estimate the alcohol-attributed calories associated with respondents' (a) most recent binge drinking episode, and (b) binge drinking across a thirty-day period. Methods: Examined responses to a module of the 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), completed by a 10-state sample in the United States (n = 7,375), in order to estimate the alcohol-attributed calories consumed among binge drinkers. Alcohol-attributed calories were estimated by multiplying number of drinks consumed for each category (beer, wine, liquor drinks, and pre-mixed flavored drinks) collected in the BRFSS by caloric averages based on two data sources. Results: In the past 30 days, respondents averaged 4.13 (SD = 5.84) binge drinking episodes, and consumed an average of 4.15 (SD = 3.55) beers, .67 (SD = 1.56) glasses of wine, 1.49 (SD = 2.53) shots of liquor, and .15 (SD = .79) pre-mixed flavored beverages during their most recent binge drinking episode. The average amount of alcohol-attributed calories consumed during this binge drinking episode was 991.76 (SD = 578.71), with men consuming significantly more calories than females. Conclusions: Dietary guidelines suggest the calories associated with alcoholic beverages should be considered as part of one's limited allotment of calories associated with solid fats and sugars, yet our results highlight alcohol as a major contributor (approximately 1,000 calories) to the proposed daily caloric needs on binge drinking days.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol
• calories
• diet
• binge drinking
• nutrition

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Adam E. Barry

Adam E. Barry's formal academic preparation was in the field of health education (school and community setting), with specific training and expertise in alcohol use and abuse. Dr. Barry's research focuses broadly upon the assessment and measurement alcohol-related behaviors, spanning numerous areas including (1) impaired driving and intoxication, (2) protective behavioral strategies college students employ to minimize intoxication, (3) the alcohol-activity association, (4) intersection of sports and alcohol, and (5) measurement of alcohol-related behaviors (i.e., use of single-item scales, visual cues of intoxication). He currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Health & Kinesiology at Texas A&M University.

Shawn D. Whiteman

Jennifer Cremeens-Matthews earned her Ph.D. in Health Education and Health Promotion from the joint program between University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. Dr. Matthews is currently an associate professor and serves as the Program Director for the Public Health Studies undergraduate degree program in the Department of Health Education and Promotion at East Carolina University. Her primary research area is alcohol use among college students and was the Principal Investigator on a federally funded grant targeting high-risk drinking at 2-year and 4-year institutions. Dr. Matthews has co-authored papers in such journals as Journal of American College Health, Journal of Addiction Medicine, and American Journal of Preventive Medicine. She is actively involved in the American Public Health Association, formerly serving as the Secretary and currently serving as a Governing Council member for the Public Health Education and Health Promotion section.

Jennifer Cremeens-Matthews

Shawn D. Whiteman is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Purdue University. He received his doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University. His major research interests include identifying and understanding the ways in which siblings influence each other's health-risk behaviors and socioemotional adjustment during adolescence.