Study: People Who Consumed Less Water Tend to be Obese

A new study shows that people who drink less water has more chances to be obese. The average water consumption in the U.S. about 4 cups a day which is not enough. While, despite a huge focus and support diet and physical activity the country is still experiencing increasing obesity rates.

Some researchers link low water consumption to obesity. In a new study published in the Annals of Family Medicine, experts used latest data from about 9,500 adults enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey (NHANES), a nationally representative sample of what Americans are eating. The data also contain information on how hydrated the subjects are by measuring the concentration of their urine.

“There’s so much focus on food and exercise, but so much more than just food and exercise goes into weight,” says Dr. Tammy Chang, assistant professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Michigan medical school.

About 33% of the people who took part in the study were not taking enough water. The study also found a link between dehydration and obesity. People who don't drink enough water had higher BMIs than those who do.

Of course those who are obese need more water than people who have smaller bodies, making the hydration threshold potentially harder to attain. People who are obese eat less and take fewer calories when they drink water before a meal than if they eat it without water.

So how will you know if you are well hydrated? Dr. Tammy Chang said that the most reliable way to check it is through the color of your urine. Light colored urine almost the same color of water means that you are well hydrated. If it’s dark, you need to drink more water.

You can also take water and be hydrated by eating fresh fruits and vegetables which contains a lot of water. A cup of sliced radishes contains about 120ml of water, while a 2-cup serving of watermelon or 1 cucumber contains more than a cup of water.

“They’re good for you because of their nutritional value, while you’re improving your hydration as well,” Chang says.

However, the link between hydration and obesity needs more study. “More studies are needed to understand the directionality,” Chang says. “But staying hydrated is good for you no matter what.”