Scientists aren’t sure why but research shows that people who drink more are more likely to exercise longer and more intensely.

“Drinking is associated with a 10.1 percentage point increase in the probability of exercising vigorously,” said the study published in The American Journal of Health Promotion. “Heavy drinkers exercise about 10 more minutes per week than current moderate drinkers and about 20 more minutes per week than current abstainers.” Furthermore, “an extra episode of binge drinking increases the number of minutes of total and vigorous physical activity per week for both women and men.”

Scientists theorized that perhaps people who drink more exercise more to burn off the calories, that heavy-drinkers and heavy-exercises are drawn to a “sensation-taking lifestyle,” or, that both exercise and drinking stimulate similar reward systems in the brain.

Whatever the case may be, the next time someone gets on your case about having a drink you can say, “Hey, I’m just trying to stick my New Year’s resolution to get in shape, man.”

Do alcohol consumers exercise more? (abstract) [American Journal of Health Promotion]
Phys Ed: Does Exercising Make You Drink More Alcohol? [NYT]

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