Will Drinking More Water Help Me Lose Weight?

Source: CDC

Maybe.  While the studies are far from overflowing, there is some research, according to an article recently published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which suggests that drinking water may help you lose and maintain your weight loss. 

In a study of 48 obese adults, ages 55 to 70, Virginia Tech researchers instructed each person to consume a lower calorie diet, but half of them were also asked to drink about 2 cups of water before each of their meals.  At the end of the 12-week study, those water gulpers lost more body fat and a little over 4 pounds more than those not drinking water before their meals.   In a follow-up study, the same researchers continued to follow these adults to see if drinking water before their meals would help them keep the weight off.  After 12 months, the water group lost about an additional pound during the maintenance period whereas the non-water group gained a slight amount of weight. 

�While the exact mechanism as to how water may help with weight loss is not known, other research suggests that individuals who consume water prior to their meals report that they feel more full and are less hungry at the meal,� according the Brenda Davy, an associate professor at Virginia Tech and one of the authors of both studies.  Taking the edge off your hunger could help you consume fewer calories at a meal.  Replacing calorie-laden soft drinks, energy drinks, and sports drinks with plain, calorie-free water will also cut some unnecessary calories from your diet.

Is water the elixir for weight loss?  Probably not, but it may help a bit when you are trying to lose weight and maintain a weight loss.  When it comes to weight loss, eating fewer calories from both beverages and food is still the name of the game. 

Cheers!

Joan

Twitter:  @JoanSalgeBlake