Will Drinking More Water Make You Lose Weight Faster?

Water = life. There is no way around it. Drink more and you'll live better -- but no, you won't lose weight any faster.

Drink More Water for Better Health

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Water is the essence of life. If you drink more will you lose weight faster? This is one of the Frequently Asked Questions in Appendix section of The Calories In, Calories Out Cookbook. And, here’s the answer from author Elaine Trujillo, MS, RDN.

The short answer is no, sorry, but please do keep drinking water. There are lots of benefits to drinking water, although faster weight loss is not one of them. Generally, when you lose weight, the first few pounds lost are water weight, and it is important to replace it. Drinking lots of water may make you feel fuller, at least temporarily, so in that sense, it may aid weight loss, but it does not improve or speed up your metabolism. On the other hand, not getting enough water can lead to mild dehydration, can make you feel drained and fatigued, and may lead to overeating.

Whether you are losing weight or not, it is important to stay well hydrated, and how much water you need depends on your gender, where you live, and how active you are. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine set general recommendations for women at approximately 91 ounces (about 11 cups, or 2.7 liters) and men at 125 ounces (about 4 quarts, or 3.7 liters) of water, from both beverages and food, daily.

CATHERINE JONES is the award-winning author or coauthor of numerous cookbooks including The Calories In, Calories Out Cookbook, Eating for Pregnancy, and Eating for Lower Cholesterol. She is the co-founder/CEO of Werbie, LLC, a startup connecting women and technology, and a co-founder of the nonprofit Share Your Calories. She is a blogger and freelance journalist.