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Americans, and American physicians, are concerned about ballooning waistlines and the accompanying health problems. Now, researchers have presented the first randomized trial of what they hail as a side-effect-free, prescription-free and simply free appetite control agent. That is, of course, water. Brenda Davy, lead researcher from Virginia Tech, presented the findings at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Previous studies showed that middle-aged and older Americans who drank two cups of water before a meal ate about 75 to 90 fewer calories over the course of the meal. For this study, the scientists took 48 adults between 55 and 75. All ate a low-calorie diet for 12 weeks. Half of the group drank 16 ounces of water before meals. The other half didn’t.
After the 12 weeks were over, the water drinkers lost on average 15.5 pounds, while the ones who weren’t prescribed water lost about 11 pounds. Davy says that this phenomenon could occur because water is filling and has, of course, zero calories. It could also be displacing other, sweeter drinks that the dieters might consume. It’s not a cure-all, but it’s certainly a cheap and simple addition to any weight-loss plan.
—Cynthia Graber
[The above text is an exact transcript of this podcast.]
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11 Comments
Add CommentWhillikers, really? All the way back in 1978 at fat camp we were given a large glass of water before every meal for the reason cited in the article. So thrilling to know that we've progressed so far in the 21st Century. Gad.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFor the Imperial unit challenged among us (I am one of them!) 16 Imperial fluid ounces = 1 pint = 454.609188 millilitres
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThose who don't learn history are doomed to repeat it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSince most of the human body, especially, the brain, is made of water and because most biological reactions take place in water, optimal hydration increases the efficiency and efficacy of metabolism and growth. Further, by the appropriate filtering of water, the aforementioned is significantly enhanced.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe aforementioned implies that optimal hydration concomitant with the appropriate filtering of water diminishes caloric requirements and hunger while having the necessary affect of weight reduction.
Would whiskey work as a substitute?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYes, N'Gog, it works for me...ten times a day. I put it in a water glass full of pink grapefruit juice - 1/4 full of the juice and I am right now running this experiment on every body, man, woman, and child in my home town. I recommend it for everyone. I knocked off three incredible pounds in the last fifteen years.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAnother method I use to loose weight is: "If you stuff your face like a pig, you're going to look like one...so eat like a pauper."
so I should not drink water before meal.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSounds great, we can lose love handles by drinking water.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSounds great, we can lose love handles by drinking water.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisScore more goals in crucial matches. Then we can talk about your whiskey ration
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe stomach doesn't empty completely between meals, so the water pushes some food from the earlier meal along the digestive tract to finish being processed and absorbed. That raises the blood sugar which induces satiation.
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