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Popular woman’s magazine Cosmopolitan recently published findings of one Virginia Tech professor’s weight loss study.
Brenda Davy, an associate professor in the department of human nutrition, foods and exercise, found water consumption increases weight loss.
The research was conducted three years ago and published in February 2010. Cosmopolitan published the study in the February 2011 issue.
There were two groups of middle-aged to older adults who participated in the study. For 12 weeks, both groups were on a healthy, low-calorie weight loss diet. The diet allowed for 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day and was packed with fruits, vegetables and proteins.
The mean body mass index of every participant was in the obese range.
One group was required to drink one to two glasses of water 15 to 20 minutes before each main meal.
The group that consumed the water before each meal lost 15.5 pounds during the 12 week period. The other group lost 11 pounds.
“Both groups did very well,” Davy said.
Davy said many people do not drink enough water per day, sometimes only 1.5 cups a day. The recommended amount is nine to 13 cups per day.
As a safety note, it is also possible to consume too much water, which can lead to water toxicity.
Davy’s study was unique because water had never been researched in its role in facilitating weight loss.
The study affirmed a commonly held belief that consuming water before each meal will deter people from overeating and, if combined with the right diet, can enhance weight loss.
“It is sort of an urban legend when people talk about using water as a weight loss method,” Davy said.
A version of this article appeared in the Feb 25 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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That's news? I'm glad CT relies on Cosmo for there information. Water has been known to be a weight reducer forever. Geez.....
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Yes, but generally as a substitute for some other drink. This suggests that two people with otherwise identical diets can have different results if one drinks water before eating. Interesting.
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source for you "claims"?
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What I'm saying is that I think it's generally accepted that water, a zero calorie beverage, taken in place of non-zero calorie beverages, would intuitively lead to weight loss, or at least reduced weight gain. My other "claim" is from the article itself, which seems to suggest that water not only doesn't add calories, but somehow works to helps to "negate" the remaining calories that you ingest. I don't get it, what's your beef?
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Putting down the fork and getting off the couch usually helps.
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Americans are some of the most physically lazy people on the planet. Obesity is practically the norm here.
Do we need water? Of course! Should we look at drinking water as a way to shed pounds? No way. There's only one way to lose weight, and I think Rocko put it well. There are obviously medical exceptions to this, but our culture constantly looks to do things the easy way (i.e. weight loss pills, fad diets).
The key to weight loss is eating a healthy, reasonable diet and exercising regularly. There's no way around it.
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In other news: Water is wet. Pigs can't fly.
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I'm trying to gain a few pounds. While working out, I drink a ton of water. When I come home I try to eat 2,000 calories in my first meal, and it's really difficult after all that water. Drinking more water makes you feel more full so you don't need to eat as much. Hence water's help in losing weight.
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Read the article. Both groups had the same caloric intake. Ergo, the suggestion is that water counteracts the calories you eat - in some way "neutralizing" some of them.
Perhaps the more fascinating thing is that these people lost so much weight eating 1800 calories per day, which is not too shy of the RDA for caloric intake. There's another inherent suggestion springing from this: most people that are over weight or are gaining weight are simply eating far too many calories. Another "duh" statement, but many don't pay attention to how high over the RDA they are.
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Check that, didn't read correctly. 1200 to 1500 calories. Hmmm...
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My stomach is grumbling at the thought of only consuming 1500 calories a day.
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I'll have to track it down but I have an article from the 80's that explains how increased water intake improves the bodies ability to burn fat. Hard to believe "water had never been researched in its role in facilitating weight loss."
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