"Dry January" probably didn't help you lose weight, experts say

BOSTON -- You may be disappointed if Dry January didn't help you lose any weight.

A growing number of people are abstaining from alcohol every January to jumpstart the new year, detox from the holidays, and improve their relationship with alcohol, and many probably expect to drop a few pounds as an added bonus.  But when February rolls around, alas, there may be no significant change in weight. Why?  

Well, some people cut out alcohol but don't necessarily change their eating or exercise habits.  

In fact, they may replace calories from alcohol with calorie-dense foods or non-alcoholic beverages that can still be high in calories. 

But even if you don't lose weight, limiting alcohol can reap big rewards in the long run.

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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