Drinking More Water With Meals May Increase Food Intake, Study Finds

The common advice to drink water with meals to curb appetite may be counterproductive, according to a joint study by Cornell University and Pennsylvania State University. Researchers found that individuals who consumed more water during lunch actually ate more food and calories, challenging the widely held belief that water intake automatically leads to reduced consumption.

The study, published in the international journal 'Appetite', analyzed data from 86 adults who participated in two separate lunch experiments. Participants were filmed eating their meals, and their food and water intake was meticulously recorded. The analysis broke down the mealtime into seconds, noting every instance of food entering the mouth and water being consumed.

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Participants drank about 236g (1 cup) of water in about 10 sips.

On average, participants drank about 236 grams (approximately one cup) of water in about 10 sips during their lunch. They repeated the action of drinking water while eating eight to nine times. The findings revealed a direct correlation: for every additional 100 grams of water consumed, participants ate approximately 39 grams more food, translating to an additional 49 calories. This suggests that the physical act of drinking water might stimulate appetite rather than suppress it for some individuals.

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For every additional 100g of water consumed, participants ate about 39g more food, and 49 calories more.