Jerome is a collegiate track athlete, and his friend Leon is sedentary and overweight. At a party, they drink the same number of beers at the same rate, and they ate approximately the same amount of food before they started drinking. Which factor will account for differences in their blood alcohol concentration?
A) Amount of body fat
B) History of alcohol consumption
C) Rate of nutrient absorption
D) Amount of physical activity prior to drinking

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The amount of body fat will account for the differences in their blood alcohol concentration. Since alcohol is water-soluble and not fat-soluble, the more body fat a person has, the more alcohol will be diluted in their body, resulting in a lower blood alcohol concentration. As Jerome is a collegiate track athlete and likely has a lower percentage of body fat, he will have a higher blood alcohol concentration than Leon, who is overweight.  History of alcohol consumption, rate of nutrient absorption, and amount of physical activity prior to drinking may affect the rate of absorption and metabolism of alcohol but are not as significant as body fat in determining blood alcohol concentration.

Jerome Is a Collegiate Track Athlete, and His Friend Leon