Dieters are often advised to stop drinking alcohol to avoid the extra calories lurking in a glass of wine or a favorite cocktail. But new research suggests that women who regularly consume moderate amounts of alcohol are less likely to gain weight than nondrinkers and are at lower risk for obesity (fatness).
The findings, reported this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine, are based on a study of 19,220 United States women aged 30 to 40 who fall into the “normal weight” based on their body mass index. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston tracked the women’s drinking habits over 13 years. About 60 percent of the women were light or regular drinkers, while about 40 percent reported drinking no alcohol.
Over the course of the study, 41 percent of the women became overweight. Although alcohol is packed with calories, the nondrinkers in the study actually gained more weight over time: nine pounds, on average, compared with an average gain of about three pounds among regular moderate drinkers. The risk of becoming overweight was almost 30 percent lower for women who consumed one or two alcohol drinks a day, compared with nondrinkers.
The findings are certain to be confusing for women who continue to receive conflicting messages about the health benefits and risks of alcohol. Although moderate drinking is associated with better heart health, regular drinking also increases breast cancer risk.
The trend toward less weight gain among drinkers doesn’t appear to hold true for men. A 2003 study of British men showed that regular drinkers gained more weight than nondrinkers. Studies suggest that drinking alcohol has different effects on eating habits among men and women. Men typically add alcohol to their daily caloric intake, whereas women are more likely to substitute(替代)alcohol for food. In addition, there may be differences in how men and women metabolize(代谢)alcohol. Metabolic studies show that after men drink alcohol, they experience little if any metabolic change. But alcohol appears to slightly speed up a woman’s metabolism.
The findings don’t mean women should rush to drink alcohol to lose weight. Other research shows that once a person is already overweight, her alcohol metabolism is more efficient, and so an overweight woman may gain more weight from alcohol than a lean woman. The data do, however, suggest that for many women facing weight problems, the extra calories are probably not coming from alcoholic drinks.
41. According to the study, which of the following regular drinker is less likely to gain weight than nondrinkers?
A B C D
42. That men regular drinkers gained more weight than women regular drinkers is due to the following except ______.
A. Women are more likely to substitute alcohol for food.
B. Men drink alcohol much faster than women.
C. Men and women metabolize alcohol differently.
D. Men have different effects on eating habits with women.
43. The underlined word whereas may probably mean _______.
A. so that B. in order that C. but D. and then
44. What do the findings really mean in this passage?
A. Women should try to drink alcohol to lose weight.
B. To advise to stop drinking alcohol to avoid the extra calories
C. The extra calories may not come from alcoholic drinks for many women..
D. There may be differences in how men and women metabolize.
45. What can a dieter probably do before reading this passage?
A. Rush to drink alcohol to lose weight B. Add alcohol to his or her daily caloric intake.
C. Face the weight problems alone. D. Try to stop drinking any alcohol or wine.
答案：41-45 ABCCD
