What you probably already know: The gender gap in alcohol-related mortality is narrowing in the U.S. as more women drink themselves to death. Over the last decade, deaths from excessive drinking among men increased 27%, while the mortality rate for women jumped 35%, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heavy drinking invites a multitude of health risks for both sexes, but women are more likely to get an alcohol-related liver disease, according to a new study published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Previous research has found that deaths from alcohol-associated hepatitis, a disease that leads to serious liver inflammation, nearly tripled among women between 1999 and 2020 (they doubled for men). The sharpest increase was recorded among young adult women.
Why? Biologically, women have a higher proportion of body fat and less water in their bodies than men, meaning a given amount of alcohol results in a higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC). A woman’s liver must process a higher BAC compared to a man who drinks the same amount. Women also have lower levels of gastric alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the stomach, which results in more alcohol entering the bloodstream and reaching the liver. Hormones such as estrogen can also influence how fast a woman’s body metabolizes alcohol. All of these factors put women at greater risk of experiencing an alcohol-related disease.
What it means: Experts estimate 25% to 35% of heavy drinkers will develop liver disease. Heavy drinking includes binge drinking and has been defined for women as four or more drinks on any day, or eight or more per week. Dr. Lisa Ganjhu, an associate professor in the division of gastroenterology and liver disease at NYU Langone Health, told NBC News she often sees women with alcohol-related health problems who don’t realize they’re likelier to develop liver disease than men because their bodies don’t process it the same way.
What happens next: Marketing is partly to blame for the increase in drinking among women. Brands that sell hard seltzers and lower-calorie options often depict women in their advertising, and many campaigns emphasize misleading themes of empowerment, aspirational lifestyles, friendship, and self-care. “It’s also important to recognize that there’s disproportionate stress on women, who are oftentimes working full-time jobs, taking on a disproportionate share of family responsibilities,” Dr. Bryant Shuey told Fortune in a 2024 article. Experts say increased awareness and better screening and intervention strategies are needed to help reduce harmful alcohol consumption, especially among women.
— Story by Cambrie Juarez
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