Decanter Italy Fine Wine Encounter 2014
Decanter Italy Fine Wine Encounter 2014
(Image credit: Decanter Italy Fine Wine Encounter 2014)

The UK's National Health Service has spoken out following a series of media articles claiming that drinking red wine may help people to lose weight.

Red wine calories: Health officials moved to quash hopes among wine lovers that their passion could have an unexpected health benefit.

A study published in the International Journal of Obesity found a link between mice being given resveratrol – a polyphenol found in grapes – and lower weight gain.

The research is one of several studies on resveratrol, which has been associated with a range of health benefits.

But, it remains unclear whether the amount of resveratrol in most red wines would be enough to have any health effect, particularly when set against the health risks of drinking too much alcohol.

With this specific research, ‘based on mice studies only, we don’t know whether resveratrol will have the same effect in people,’ said the NHS on its NHS Choices website.

‘And drinking plenty of red wine [as one headline claimed] will not lead you to lose weight – if anything the opposite will occur. A standard 75cl bottle of red wine contains around 570 calories, which is more than is found in two McDonald’s hamburgers,’ it added.

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Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.