The study

In the research conducted by US experts at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, 19,200 American women aged 39 and over were asked about their drinking habits. Their weight-gain was then recorded for the next 13 years.

The findings

Perhaps not surprisingly, all of the women tended to gain weight. However, the 4 in 10 who said they were teetotal gained the most inches. The fewest inches were gained by those who drank 'moderate' amounts - perhaps a glass or two of wine a day.

Why the French aren't fat

The research also suggested not all types of alcohol were equal, with spirits and beer less kind to he waistline than wine. The finding suggests that the body processes the calories in alcohol differently to those in food. And that puts it at odds with the general assumption among dieters that alcohol is fattening.

The conclusion could explain why French and Italian women seem to avoid piling on the pounds despite routinely drinking wine with meals. One theory for the beneficial effects is that in regular drinkers the liver develops a separate method of breaking down alcohol, with surplus energy turned mainly into heat, rather than fat.

So if you take in 120 calories from a small glass of red wine, most will be burnt off. But if they come from a slice of takeaway pizza, more will be turned into fat. Similarly, the 570 calories in a bottle of champagne would count less than the 550-plus in a steak and kidney pie.

Red's good for health

Drinking red wine in moderation has often been linked with other health benefits. One study found that people scored better at arithmetic tests after being given resveratrol, the 'wonder ingredient' in red wine. It is thought that resveratrol, a plant chemical which has been claimed to have many qualities including extending life, widens the blood vessels, boosting blood flow to the brain.

Red wine can also stop blood clots from forming and raise levels of HDL cholesterol - 'good cholesterol' that protects against hardening of the blood vessels. Other research has shown that just half a glass of red wine a day can greatly cut the odds of death from heart disease and a glass or two of alcohol a day can extend life expectancy by almost four years.

But it is not all good news. Alcohol is also believed to be the biggest factor behind surging rates of breast cancer.

Pic: Adam Brokes