A recent study involving over 1,900 U.S. adults reveals that beer-only drinkers exhibit the lowest diet quality, highest caloric intake, and lowest physical activity levels compared to those who consume wine or liquor.

None of the groups achieved a Healthy Eating Index score of 80, indicating an adequate diet; beer drinkers had the lowest score at 49, while wine drinkers scored slightly better at 55.

Among the respondents, 39% identified as beer-only drinkers, 22% as wine drinkers, 18% as liquor drinkers, and 21% as mixed drinkers.

Madeline Novack, the chief resident at Tulane School of Medicine and lead author of the study, highlighted the health risks associated with alcohol overuse, such as cirrhosis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

The study underscores the growing concern over alcohol consumption and poor dietary habits in the U.S., which are contributing to chronic diseases like liver failure.

Dr. Novack advises healthcare providers to ask patients about their type of alcohol consumption to promote healthier eating habits, especially among beer drinkers.

Dr. Novack emphasized the necessity of understanding the link between alcohol use and poor nutrition to better manage liver diseases.

Registered dietitian Stephanie Schiff suggests that healthcare providers should engage in discussions about alcohol intake with patients, as the perceived health benefits of alcohol are diminishing.

Future research is needed to further explore the relationship between types of alcohol consumption and dietary habits, as well as their effects on liver health.

The research advocates for targeted patient education and public health campaigns to address the risks associated with poor diet and alcohol consumption.

The study indicates that the type of food typically consumed with different alcoholic beverages may influence lifestyle choices, with beer often paired with high-carb, low-fiber foods, while wine is more commonly associated with balanced meals.

Dr. Novack's findings will be presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases conference and are set to be published in the journal Nutrients.