Ask An Expert: 64 Ounces of Water Daily

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Ask An Expert: 64 Ounces of Water Daily

Question:

Is there any scientific proof that drinking 64 ounces of water daily will help a person lose weight?

Answer:

Water and other non-caloric beverages can depress appetite, but the effect is quite mild. Despite a full feeling in the stomach after drinking a large glass of water, most people don't get much lasting satisfaction and quickly get hungry once the water moves down into the intestines.

There is evidence that adding extra water to food can result in a more lasting fullness and reduced hunger later on. By adding the extra water, you increase the volume of food and you decrease the number of calories per ounce (called the caloric density). This works especially well for breakfast because cereals, yogurt, and other breakfast foods can have extra water added easily. Then, hunger at lunch has a good chance of being less intense.

Although water does not have any special weight-reducing properties, I can see how the concept of 64 ounces of water per day can be helpful. By drinking plain water, a person is much less likely to drink other calorie-containing beverages. High-calorie beverage consumption today is a major contributor to the rise in obesity in the United States.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications. He is recognized as an outstanding clinician and teacher and is a recipient of the Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year award at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. LeWine continues to practice Internal Medicine; most recently he became a hospitalist after practicing primary care for over 20 years.

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Last updated:	January 24, 2007