Drinking alcohol may influence cravings for certain foods in a surprising way, study suggests

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Amen Clinics Associate Medical Director Dr. Eboni Cornish discusses a study linking ultra-processed foods to a higher dementia risk and cognitive decline. If you find yourself reaching for a bag of chips after a few drinks, hormones may be partly to blame. Researchers suggest they can influence food cravings and may contribute to significant overeating. Studies examining how alcohol affects people’s eating habits have produced inconsistent results, University of Sydney researchers reported in Obesity Reviews. Alcohol on its own always adds calories, but how much it contributes to people’s total caloric intake depends on their dietary habits, the scientists observed. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Previous research suggests alcohol consumption may increase levels of FGF21, "a hormone that increases savory (umami) preference and reduces s