A study by Colditz et al. These findings are interesting in that one would expect greater energy intake to lead to weight gain. A study by Mannisto et al. There is evidence that ethanol increases metabolic rate.
Ethanol increases oxygen consumption in normal subjects and to a greater extent in alcoholics.
Substitution for alcohol in place of carbohydrates increases metabolic rates in humans and rodents. The MEOS is induced by chronic alcohol consumption leading to energy waste. It is unlikely that MEOS is the sole reason for why energy is wasted during chronic alcohol consumption, another reason may be that the increased acetaldehyde produced ethanol metabolism. Even when MEOS is induced, much of the ethanol is metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase to acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde may contribute to energy wasting by promoting catecholamine release and by impairing mitochonrial oxidative phosphorylation.