Koreans’ unusual belief that alcohol promotes weight loss sparks warning from health officials

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A growing number of social media posts claiming that drinking alcohol can help with weight loss have prompted South Korean health authorities to issue a strong rebuttal, warning the public against misleading health information.

The Korea Health Promotion Institute (KHPI) said Friday that several viral posts had misinterpreted a Harvard University study, gaining more than 3,600 likes online and being widely reshared. These posts suggested that moderate drinking aids weight loss, but KHPI clarified that the claims are scientifically inaccurate.

According to the institute, the original Harvard study observed a trend where “good” cholesterol levels increased and “bad” cholesterol levels decreased among participants after they started drinking moderately. However, the research made no direct reference to weight loss. On the contrary, the study’s authors explicitly warned that excessive drinking still poses significant health risks.

Professor Lee Hae-jung from the Department of Food and Nutrition at Gachon University also dismissed the viral claims, explaining that one gram of pure alcohol contains around seven calories. “People often drink with snacks or high-calorie foods,” she said. “Since alcohol metabolism interferes with fat breakdown, those extra calories are likely stored as fat, meaning alcohol consumption can actually lead to weight gain, not weight loss.”

KHPI warned that exaggerated or misinterpreted health information can have harmful effects on public health, potentially encouraging dangerous drinking habits. The agency urged both content creators and consumers to follow its Health Information Posting Guidelines, which emphasize using clear and accurate expressions, avoiding false or exaggerated claims, providing evidence-based information, and disclosing sources, publication dates, and sponsorships.

KHPI President Kim Heon-joo stressed, “There is no safe level of alcohol consumption. The false belief that drinking can help you lose weight could encourage excessive drinking, putting people’s health at risk. We will continue to proactively respond to harmful misinformation and work to create a healthier information environment.”

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top healthcare and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.