In one of the less surprising revelations of the year,researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) andcolleagues have confirmed that excessive consumption of beercan lead to the condition commonly known as beer belly. Atthe same time, however, they discovered that, beyond aestheticconcerns, the condition may point to health hazards of a moreserious nature. In a comparison of beer drinkers and winedrinkers, the scientists found that beer tends to build acentral paunch, or "potbelly", while wine drinkers tend tohave narrower waists, even when the same amount of alcohol andcalories is consumed by both.