Is it healthier to be 2 stone overweight or drink half a bottle of wine a day?

[SodYouIllGoOnMyOwn]

Just seeking some views here and it’s a bit controversial so I opted for AIBU. Obviously neither is ideal but from a health perspective, what do you think?

Not unreasonable: Half a bottle of wine is worse.
Unreasonable: 2 stone overweight is worse.

Really interested to hear some views.

Thanks.

Sounds like you’re trying to justify/normalise unhealthy drinking habits.

Neither.
Sorry if you dont want to hear that.

Plenty of European countries drink alcohol daily but in moderation. There’s so many unhealthy things, stress, sugar, lack of sleep!

Back in high school i was told that a person who smokes and exercises regularly is healthier than a person who doesnt smoke and doesnt exercise.
I have no sources to back this up at all, but it was my excuse for smoking for about 10 years.

The healthiest is obviously if you dont drink and youre not overweight. But there are so many factors playing into it, that each person just has to decide whats best for them.
Of course if you drink too much you can justify it to yourself by thinking “at least im not overweight”. An overweight person can justify it by saying “at least im not drinking”.
But who do you need to justify it to?

Thing is though, if someone is drinking half a bottle of wine a day chances are their diet is shit too. Even if they’re not strictly 2 stone over weight, half a bottle a day is about 3-4 bottles a week, which is coming up to 3000 calories a week on wine alone. Either they’re going to get fat on that, or their diet is likely lacking nutritionally if they’re able to tolerate that calorie intake without putting on weight.

I would be healthier two stone OW than drinking a half bottle of wine a day. If I drank that many calories and was a healthy weight, then I'd only be achieving that through cutting back on food and so would be missing out on important nutrients. Health is as much about what you take in as what you leave out.

I would go right. I am also better on my right foot, so am hoping it would be easier to take to a prosthetic on that side maybe?

Obesity or morbid obesity is obviously bad for our health...but two stone overweight? Like a pp said, depending on height, may not even be that much. If I was two stone overweight I'd be a large size 12/small 14. Some studies have shown being slightly overweight actually can be protective for our health. I don't necessarily believe that being two stone overweight will be killing you slowly.

I'm sure I remember reading that a BMI of 27 was shown by data to be a healthy weight as women go into older age, as you're protected from frailty with weight loss due to sudden illness and from osteoporosis.

Obviously weight varies hugely from one person to another even if they appear to be a similar size, but two stone over could feasibility be a BMI of 27. So I would say probably the alcohol is worse for your health.

It’s a no brainer surely??? I’d rather be thinner and drink wine than fat and not.

Half a bottle of wine is roughly 2 glasses bit it depends on how you drink it.

If looking at the French example typically drink 2-3 glasses of wine a day but it's with meals. It has been reducing over the years but France (and Portugal still have high wine consumption)
this is very different to just drinking half a bottle of wine sat on a sofa. Red wine is moderation can be beneficial to health being high in antioxidants.

Personally I would go with half a bottle of red wine but a glass with lunch and a glass with dinner!

Neither one or the other is good. Deal with both.

Someone else eating a bad diet does not justify you drinking every night, no.

The question is which is healthier, not which you’d rather. If health wasn’t an issue it would absolutely be a no brainer for me too!

Are these the only 2 options?

Probably depends on the individuals genetics. I can think of several people that drink way more than that, that’ve got to old age. But others probably wouldn’t be so lucky.
Two stone extra depends on how tall you are too.
I’d be inclined to vote booze being worse, but if the weight becomes 3 stone plus that’d be T2 diabetes territory…

Exactly, I limit drinking to weekends and ensure my BMI is within the healthy range. I could happily drink every day, conversely I could get my BMI lower down in the healthy range for health and aesthetic purposes, but on balance, so long as it’s within the healthy range that’s the compromise I take to not limit drinking (or food) too much.

Well done 👏 congratulations on your recovery and the birth if your beautiful babies from your strong body.
You have the right mindset, continue to see alcohol as a demon, some people can take it or leave it. 🌷
I'm slim too, not healthy slim.
I think two stone overweight on a balanced diet, is the best.
If I got sick I've no fat reserves, I'd be skeletal in no time.

There is evidence that red wine is actually good for your health, in moderation.

Many post menopausal women are easily two stone overweight. Evidence shows that after the menopause, carrying extra weight protects against osteoporosis.

All other things being equal (which they would never be so it's a daft question), I would say being 2 stone overweight would have fewer health risks than drinking 1/2 a bottle of wine a day.

The negative impact of the drinking would become apparent sooner than being 2 stone overweight ie ability to function well mentally, damage to your body.

That wasn't the question though

I doubt it. A person who lives on sausages and bacon will get very few, in any, of the vital vitamins and nutrients. A person who eats healthily will provide their body with what it needs to function but also with some stuff it doesn't need. It will be a better balance even if the drinking is not ideal.

I’m left footed but I reckon I’d chop off my left, I could get an automatic car where you only need your right.

BMI includes height so it doesn't matter how tall you are.

It seems going by you tube there is more and more awareness of the health benefits of not drinking alcohol at all. It seems to be a modern trend. I a m lucky as booze has rarely interested me and now I am post menopause I have lost all taste for it. I am definitely a stone overweight though as I cannot afford to eat a high protein low carb diet.