Normal-weight women who drink lightly to moderately gain weight more slowly than those who abstain, according to Harvard University research published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.
The study of 19,220 women found that those consuming 15 to 30 grams of alcohol daily were 30 percent less likely to become overweight. This held true for all types of alcohol, with the strongest link for red wine.
Participants in the Women's Health Study were healthy women aged 39 to 89, all starting at a normal weight. Over nearly 13 years, more than 41 percent became overweight and nearly 4 percent obese. Non-drinkers gained the most weight.
Researchers aren't sure exactly why moderate drinkers stay slimmer, but they advise against starting to drink just for weight control due to alcohol's health risks.
