Consuming four or more drinks per day increases the risk of being obese by 46 percent, the research found.

8,236 Survey Respondents

Ahmed Arif of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and James Rohrer of the Mayo Clinic analyzed the results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III in a subset of 8,236 non-smokers.

The respondents had completed a questionnaire about their drinking habits and their body mass index (BMI) had been measured.

Out of the sample studied, 46 percent were "current drinkers" who consumed at least one drink a month on average. Individuals who drank four or more drinks per day were classified as heavy drinkers.

Obesity was defined as a BMI equal to or higher than 30.

Heavy Drinking Magnifies Obesity Risk

The current drinkers had 73 percent lower risk of being obese than non-drinkers, according to the study results.

Those who drank one to two glasses regularly -- but less than five drinks per week -- were significantly less likely to be obese than non-drinkers and heavy drinkers.

However, heavy drinkers were 46 percent more likely to be obese than non-drinkers.

Argument Against Abstention

The mechanisms of the protective effect of alcohol on obesity are not well understood and "the data give no evidence to advise non-drinkers to start drinking alcohol just for reducing body weight," the authors emphasize.

"However, the evidence reported here argues against a strategy of promoting complete abstention -- at least among those who regularly consume alcohol," they add.