How Many Ounces of Water Should I Drink a Day to Lose Weight?

Research shows that drinking water before every meal may aid your weight-loss efforts.

Drinking Water Before Meals Aids Weight Loss

A study led by expert nutritionist Brenda Davy, PhD, and published in the journal Obesity, found that overweight people who were on a low-calorie diet and drank 2 cups of water (approximately 16 oz) before each of the three main daily meals over a 12-week period lost an average of 5.5 pounds more than subjects who were on a low-calorie diet alone.

Drinking Too Much Water is Dangerous

While drinking water before a meal may aid weight loss, drinking very large quantities of water is not a proven weight-loss method, and it is also dangerous. Physician and nutrition expert Melina Jampolis warns, "Drinking massive amounts of water (gallons and gallons) can cause a dangerous condition known as hyponatremia (low sodium levels in the blood), which can cause confusion, irritability and seizures and may even lead to a coma."

Bottom Line

Davy's research indicates that drinking only 16 fluid oz. of water before every meal, or 48 ounces per day, aids weight loss when combined with a healthy diet. However, drinking copious amounts of water is not a safe or effective way to lose weight.

References

• Obesity: Water Consumption Increases Weight Loss During a Hypocaloric Diet Intervention in Middle-aged and Older Adults
• CNN: Expert Q&A--Can Drinking Lots of Water Help you Lose Weight?