Voluntary ethanol consumption and obesity in golden hamsters

Adult male golden hamsters with continuous access to Purina chow, water and either 15, 30 or 45% ethanol (v/v) for 14 weeks derived an average of 34, 37 and 22%, respectively, of their total calories from ethanol. Animals in the 15 and 45% ethanol groups derived up to 12.0 and 9.9 kcal/day, respectively, from ethanol, but the Purina chow intakes of these animals were such that their total caloric consumption and their body weights did not significantly exceed those of a control group having access only to Purina chow and water. In contrast, the 30% ethanol group derived up to 16.4 kcal/day from ethanol, and consistently consumed 25% more total calories than the control group, despite eating significantly less Purina chow. Furthermore, hamsters in the 30% ethanol group were 27% heavier and had significantly larger epididymal and retroperitoneal fat pads than controls. Similarities are noted between ethanol-induced obesity in hamsters and the dietary obesity which has been observed in rats having continuous access to Purina chow and a 32% sucrose solution.