Over 35? Two Glasses of Water Before Meals Increases Weight Loss by 30%

Of all the diet and weight loss tricks this one may be the easiest and most practical. In a recent study presented at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, researchers reported that middle-aged and older adults lost 30% more weight when simply drinking 2 cups of water before each meal.

Researchers split overweight and obese participants between the ages of 55 and 75 into two groups. Both groups were instructed to eat a low-calorie/low-fat diet for 12weeks, however, only one of the groups was told to drink 2 cups of water prior to each meal. By the end of the study the group that was told to drink water before meals lost nearly 16 lbs. compared to 11 lbs. for the diet only group.

Although this tip/trick is not new, it is based on previous research that showed a reduction in calories eaten during a meal in which you drank water first. This research did not, however, determine the direct benefits to weight loss, according to the article published by HealthDay News.

This is great news for those who are middle-age and older. Unfortunately, if you’re under 35 it won’t likely work for you. In an interview with the researchers, it was explained that because gastric emptying occurs at a slower pace as we age, drinking water will more likely keep you full longer the older you are.

In other recent research, encouraging water drinking has been shown to also replace the consumption of sugary beverages, which on average increase caloric intake by 300 kcals per day.

HealthDay News. Could Drinking Water before Meals Help You Lose Weight? August 23, 2010