Light Drinking Linked with Less Weight Gain in Midlife

The results of research on the health benefits of alcohol have been mixed. But a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that light drinking might help women stay slim.

A Cocktail a Day?

Researchers followed nearly 20,000 healthy women for an average of 13 years. At the start of the study, all had a normal body mass index (a measurement of weight based on height) and were at least 39 years old. When they enrolled, participants were asked about their typical alcohol intake in the past year.

The women tended to gain weight during the study period. But those who didn't drink alcohol gained the most. In fact, the amount of weight gained decreased as alcohol intake increased. The average weight gain was eight pounds for nondrinkers and three pounds for those who drank the most (two to three drinks per day or more).

Some 40 percent became overweight or obese during the study period. Women who drank the equivalent of one to two drinks a day were almost 30 percent less likely than nondrinkers to become overweight or obese. Few women reported drinking more than a couple of drinks a day. Therefore, researchers were not able to determine if heavy drinking was linked with weight gain.

Risks and Benefits of Alcohol

Drinking in moderation has been linked with a lower risk for heart disease in men and, to a lesser degree, in women. But research has also shown that alcohol might raise the risk for breast, liver, and other cancers in women. Heavy drinking is linked with many health problems, including liver disease and many cancers.

Experts suggest that women drink in moderation. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans define moderate drinking as having no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. One drink is equal to the following:

• 12 ounces of beer
• 8 ounces of malt liquor
• 5 ounces of wine
• 1.5 ounces or a "shot" of liquor

A Balancing Act

These findings are not a recommendation for a new diet plan. When it comes down to it, balancing the calories you take in -- including calories from alcohol -- with the calories you burn is how to maintain your weight.

When you're in balance, you're eating about the same number of calories that your body is using. If you consume more than your body uses, you will store those extra calories as fat and gain weight.

To find out if you're in balance, compare your calorie intake from the foods you've eaten with your calories burned through physical activity. Online tools like MyPyramid Tracker (see link below) can help you do this.

Always consult your physician for more information.