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.

Personally I would prefer to be 2 stone overweight than an alcohol addiction.

It isn’t a silly question. There’s plenty of research out there on this. Unless the researchers are also asking a silly question….

Ok. Ok. Having thought about the question a bit more…I’m still in the thin with wine camp.

Then wouldn't you have a food addiction?

2-3 glasses every single night is excessive and contradicts the otherwise healthy diet. If you drink that much your diet is simply NOT healthy...

Mmm, is this a discussion you are having with a friend ‘for fun’. I’ll assume this as neither are good for you!

Going against the grain, I would have thought that obesity is worse as it puts a strain on your organs and I also carcinogenic.

I think alcohol is interesting and I think we have normalised drinking as we have smoking… I think that alcohol is particularly bad for women. However, I still think obesity is worse as you can maintain a fitness level on half a bottle of wine a day. I also wouldn’t see someone drinking half a bottle of wine on holiday every day as particularly worrying. To note I have one or two drinks everyday on holiday but don’t generally drink at home.

However, please use my views for fun only. If you have an alcohol dependency, please seek help.

I also had to respond to your post and add you are deluding yourself if you think your diet is healthy. If you stopped drinking would you lose weight do an experiment on yourself. If you don't lose weight you are over eating and if you do then it was the drink making you pile on the pounds.

Absolutely not. That much alcohol each week is infinitely worse for you than a bad diet. NHS recommend 14 units per week - a unit is one SMALL glass of wine. I am willing to bet that 2-3 glass of wine a night is somewhere in the region of 20-30 units a week, probably more.

Stop drinking, keep to the healthy diet and the two stone will disappear!

Thank you.

I thought so and have told him it doesn’t work that way, but it falls on deaf ears.

Well yes, but that wasn't the question OP asked.

375ml of wine is 5 units . That 35 units a week. 2st overweight especially if you're an average height and build or more is probably better

However, I still think obesity is worse as you can maintain a fitness level on half a bottle of wine a day

You can maintain a fitness level of you're overweight. I've been two stone overweight and during that time, I did several gym classes a week such as spin, pump, hiit.

It's a question that an overweight person asks when they are eating and drinking too much. You can't buy into the delusion they are a greedy person. One evil is not better than the other it all adds up. She says she is eating healthy but is she if you watch secret eaters they swear blind that they eat healthy and can't understand why they are so big. If she is drinking 3 glasses of wine every evening she might nibble here and there without thinking and it all adds up. She's a bit tipsy and has a nibble and doesn't think there is anything wrong because she has a healthy diet.

I like a drink too and a nibble while I drink. The important thing is is don't lie to yourself about what you are eating and drinking because then it becomes a problem.

that's quite a stupid question. Whether you are healthy or not takes into account more factor than just your weight and what you drink!! What amount of exercise you do, do you smoke, what do you eat, what is your family history, your age, etc.

If exercise lowers risk of cancer, and alcohol consumption and/or being over weight raises risk of cancer, surely they must have an affect on each other

It's an interesting question

"But you don't necessarily have a bad diet as such if you are 2 stone overweight. You might eat largely healthy food but too much of it. "

I'm sorry, but I don't believe you get to 2 stone overweight from eating salads or fish with veggies.

Yes, but then she can ask 'all others things being equal, which is least healthy...'

Over the course of time it's quite easy to reach two stone overweight by over eating by a relatively small amount each day....an extra slice of toast, a couple of extra potatoes with a main meal, an extra glass of juice etc. Especially if you're short and have a sedentary job, you may have quite a low number of calories needed to maintain your weight therefore over eating by even just 100-200 cals a day will eventually cause your weight to slowly creep up.

Not for everyone, some just eat what they need

Over eating can also be an addiction

Well obviously considering not everyone is overweight.

So quite easy for some, not others

I really don't understand what your point is ...or why you are commenting in the way you are on my post. Is what I said especially controversial?

Being 2 stone overweight is generally bad for you. But there will be big variations in just how bad for you that is. Some people carry more visceral fat around their organs - this is extra bad. Some carry their fat more visibly - not as bad for your health. Some overweight people eat very healthy diets and exercise - they just eat too much. Some have appalling diets etc.

This is a really good point. It's possible to be technically overweight but largely healthy for all the reasons this poster and other has described. It's not optimal but there are plenty of ways that can be offset and it doesn't automatically have to be life threatening or limiting.

Daily drinking is never a net good or even a net neutral. I notice some people position it as being OK if you eat healthily/are slim/exercise a lot. But no amount of healthy eating and exercise will mitigate the damage to your organs/mental health/social relationships etc from drinking every day.