Dry January has put the health benefits of eliminating alcohol in the spotlight as some people put down the bottle for the first month of the year.
But TV personality Kelly Ripa, host of ABC's “Live With Kelly and Mark,” revealed that giving up alcohol had an unexpected effect on her.
On Wednesday's episode, when Andy Cohen co-hosted with Ripa, he brought up, “We're in the middle of Dry January.”
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“Usually a little weight loss comes my way,” he commented. “That hasn’t really happened yet.”
Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa attend the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on March 10, 2024. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
RIPA responded that she thought she would have a “weight loss blowout” when she quit drinking in 2017.
“Everyone said, 'Well, you're going to be too skinny… you can't afford to lose it,'” she said. “I gained 12 pounds!”
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“I don't understand this 'magic weight loss'” [imply]”She continued, 'I think it came down to eating sugar…because obviously alcohol is like a lot of sugar.'
In 2020, Ripa revealed to People Magazine that she and her friend decided to try a sober month in 2017, and that she “loved the road.” [she] I felt it. “
Kelly Ripa attends Variety's 2023 Women of the Year event at the Grill on April 4, 2023 in New York City. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
“It's not that I'm drunk, I've never been a drunk person, but even like two glasses of wine at a girl's night dinner, I feel it the next morning,” she said.
“I didn't really feel the need or desire to get back into it,” Ripa continued. “It wasn't really a choice or a thought, it was just, 'Yeah, I don't think I'm going to drink anymore.'”
Effects of alcohol on weight
Dr. Kathleen Jordan, MIDI Health Chief Medical Officer and women's health and weight management expert, shared the health benefits of eliminating or limiting alcohol, including cancer risk and weight loss.
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“When you drink less, you eliminate hundreds of calories from the drink itself (160 to 400 calories or more per drink), so drinking less is less likely.”
“Also, while less alcohol helps the body sleep better, bad sleep is associated with weight gain. Alcohol interferes with your ability to reach deep sleep, which contributes to daytime fatigue and sluggishness,” This ultimately contributes to weight gain.”
Limiting or eliminating alcohol can have different health effects depending on the individual, one doctor noted. (istock)
But limiting alcohol may not have these benefits for everyone, Jordan noted.
If low or moderate drinkers experience weight gain after eliminating alcohol, experts say it's most likely because they replaced drinking with snacks or sugary mocktails. .
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Jordan recommended replacing alcohol with different water variations instead, such as bubbly, flat, or decorated water to satisfy your “nervous eating” or drinking habits.
Dry January also occurs when the weather is cold and dark, and most Americans tend to spend more time indoors.
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Jordan recommended keeping up with physical activity during the winter to support the benefits of not drinking and preventing weight gain.
