Drinking a glass of water before eating a meal is a common weight loss method many people tell me they use. But does it work?
A new study from Virginia Tech found the middle-aged and older adults who drank two cups of water before each meal consumed fewer calories and lost more weight than those who skipped drinking water.
A group of overweight and obese men and women between the ages of 55-75 were divided into two groups. The first group was told to follow a low-fat, low-calorie diet while the other group was told to follow the same diet but to also drink two cups of water before each meal. After 12 weeks, the water drinkers lost 15.5 pounds while the non-drinkers lost 11 pounds.
The main purpose of this study was to see if people who drank water before meals would compensate by eating more later in the day. This study finds that this did not happen.
For many people, the problem is not losing the weight but keeping it off. To see if this water drinking plan helps in the long term, the study participants were followed up 12 months after the study. Preliminary data shows that those who continued to drink water before meals not only kept the weight off but continued to lose a little more weight.
Researchers do point out that this may only help those over age 35. As we age, our stomachs take longer to empty. The longer the water stays in the stomach, the longer you will feel full. In younger people, the water begins to leave the stomach almost immediately so it may not have the same effect.
This study was done using plain water. Not all waters are the same. Many now have added sugars for flavoring. This can add anywhere from a few calories to as much as in a soda. Filling up on sugary beverages before eating defeats the purpose of drinking the water in the first place!
Make sure you limit the before meal water to two cups per meal. More is not always better is this case. Water intoxication is very dangerous.
This is an easy, inexpensive and healthy way to try losing weight. Why not give it a try?
A new study from Virginia Tech found the middle-aged and older adults who drank two cups of water before each meal consumed fewer calories and lost more weight than those who skipped drinking water.
A group of overweight and obese men and women between the ages of 55-75 were divided into two groups. The first group was told to follow a low-fat, low-calorie diet while the other group was told to follow the same diet but to also drink two cups of water before each meal. After 12 weeks, the water drinkers lost 15.5 pounds while the non-drinkers lost 11 pounds.
The main purpose of this study was to see if people who drank water before meals would compensate by eating more later in the day. This study finds that this did not happen.
For many people, the problem is not losing the weight but keeping it off. To see if this water drinking plan helps in the long term, the study participants were followed up 12 months after the study. Preliminary data shows that those who continued to drink water before meals not only kept the weight off but continued to lose a little more weight.
Researchers do point out that this may only help those over age 35. As we age, our stomachs take longer to empty. The longer the water stays in the stomach, the longer you will feel full. In younger people, the water begins to leave the stomach almost immediately so it may not have the same effect.
This study was done using plain water. Not all waters are the same. Many now have added sugars for flavoring. This can add anywhere from a few calories to as much as in a soda. Filling up on sugary beverages before eating defeats the purpose of drinking the water in the first place!
Make sure you limit the before meal water to two cups per meal. More is not always better is this case. Water intoxication is very dangerous.
This is an easy, inexpensive and healthy way to try losing weight. Why not give it a try?
No comments:
Post a Comment