The Beer belly reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Beer belly

Although a Beer Belly is not solely caused by the consumption of beer, it is a contributory factor. It is characterised by a horizontal overhang above the waist, with little apparent fat on the rest of the body. The beer belly is usually associated with men (women tend to store excess fat in other areas such as the hips and buttocks). A lack of muscle tone in the abdominal muscles contributes to the appearance of the beer belly, with the overhang often increasing with age.

The primary calorie-bearing constitutents of beer are alcohol and sugars; beer has no fat and very little protein content. Light beers and low-alcohol beers carry fewer calories than other beers. [1] Even heavier beers carry fewer calories per glass than (say) sugared cola drinks. However, in many subcultures beer drinkers consume high-calorie junk food -- such as potato chips -- alongside beer.

For more information on fat, see the entry on Obesity.

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