Research says drinking plenty of water before meals helps you lose weight

A 12-week study at the University of Birmingham in the UK found that drinking plenty of water before meals could be a good method for reducing weight. The 84 survey participants were divided into two groups: one with 41 people and one with 43.

The smaller group was instructed to drink about 500 ml of water before each meal, which is the size of a large beer mug there. The other patients were instructed to take the same amount before just one meal, or none if they preferred. Just imagine that they were on a full stomach before feeding.

In addition, participants were instructed on how to increase the amount of exercise and on a healthier diet so that weight reduction would be gradual and healthy. The result of the clinical trial was that volunteers who drank water before meals lost an average of 4.3 kg at the end of 3 months, while the others lost only 800 grams on average.

The study, which was published in the Obesity medical journal - specializing in studies on diet and obesity - is intended to make a real contribution to public health research in the UK. The World Health Organization estimates that three out of four men and two out of three British women will be overweight by 2030 unless the population is better informed on how they can eat better.

* Posted on 09/05/2015