In addition, drinking more water may discourage you from guzzling soda and other calorie-laden beverages. (The study included only plain water, not mineral, flavored, or vitamin waters.) Even the routine of drinking water before meals may have a beneficial effect because it’s a reminder that you’re trying to lose weight, the researchers suggest.
Drinking more water is a low-risk way to lose excess weight, especially if it takes the place of other liquid calories, says Stephen Cook, MD, an obesity expert at the University of Rochester Medical Center, in N.Y.
“This is an easy way to replace those calories, and if everything is equal, it will slow down your weight gain or reverse it,” says Dr. Cook, who was not involved in the new research. “It is one of the safest things we can recommend to help people lose weight.”
Davy says that people who are trying to lose weight should bring a refillable water bottle to work and drink from it throughout the day. “And try to have two cups of water 20 minutes before each main meal,” she says.
While each person’s hydration needs are different, the Institute of Medicine advises that men and women try to consume about 3.7 and 2.7 liters of water a day, respectively, including water found in food and other beverages.
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit professional organization for scientists that was chartered by Congress in 1937.
