Do you drink water while eating to lose weight?
Study questions benefits of drinking during meals
- The new research found that higher water consumption during meals was associated with an increase in the amount of food consumed. Participants ate around 40 additional grams of food, equivalent to nearly 50 extra calories, for every additional 100 milliliters of water consumed.
A new scientific study has challenged the widely held belief that drinking water during meals helps reduce food intake by creating an early feeling of fullness, suggesting instead that it may be linked to people eating slightly more.
For years, it has been commonly believed that drinking water while eating could support weight management by increasing satiety and reducing calorie consumption. However, researchers have found that the relationship between water consumption and meal size may be more complex.
According to a report published by The Independent, previous studies had observed that people with obesity tended to drink more frequently during meals, take faster sips and spread their water intake more evenly throughout eating periods compared with people with lower body weights.
The new research found that higher water consumption during meals was associated with an increase in the amount of food consumed. Participants ate around 40 additional grams of food, equivalent to nearly 50 extra calories, for every additional 100 milliliters of water consumed.
The study also found that people who frequently switched between eating and drinking tended to consume larger quantities of food.
Researchers from Cornell University suggested that water may help refresh the taste sensations in the mouth, allowing food flavors to remain enjoyable for longer and potentially delaying the feeling of being satisfied.
Paige Cunningham, one of the study’s authors, said that while many people believe water creates a lasting feeling of fullness, it moves through the stomach relatively quickly and may not significantly reduce hunger over an extended period.
She explained that water could instead encourage greater food consumption by improving hydration, making eating easier and reducing dryness in the mouth, which may prolong the enjoyment of a meal.
The research analyzed data from two earlier experiments involving 86 adults, who were served meals of beef chili or chicken tikka masala with water and were allowed to eat freely. The findings showed that participants who drank water more quickly tended to eat less food.
Scientists said this pattern may be connected to the amount of time water remains in the mouth or to the overall duration of the meal. Further research is being conducted to determine whether water directly influences eating behavior.
The researchers concluded that drinking habits during meals, including the frequency of alternating between bites and sips, may play a role in how much food people consume.
