Alcohol and the male physique

Alcohol does make a difference to your body shape. It will change depending on where your excess fat is stored. If fat gathers around the waist, it can cause 'love handles' to develop either side. Excess fat in the stomach area can cause a 'beer belly' to develop.

Calorie counting

If you're drinking a lot of alcohol on a regular basis it can be easier than you think to absorb the excess calories that cause these problems. Drink four pints of strong lager on a Saturday night, and you're consuming around 715 calories – roughly the equivalent of a hot dog, followed by a burger, with a doughnut for dessert.

It isn't just the calories in what you drink which makes you gain weight. Alcohol reduces the amount of fat your body burns for energy. Because we can't store alcohol in the body, our systems want to get rid of it as quickly as possible, and this process takes priority over absorbing nutrients and burning fat.

Make a positive change

In the long term, drinking too much can have many adverse effects on your health, including increasing your chance of having heart disease and developing cancer.

Luckily, whatever your reasons for cutting back, it's easier than you think to live a lower alcohol lifestyle. You might not quite get a body like Beckham's, but with fewer calories coming from alcohol, you stand a much better chance of staying moob-free.

Take the first steps by tracking your drinking with MyDrinkaware.