Bob Harper, a charismatic American sports coach, seems to believe it and has even made it his hobbyhorse. This slimming specialist has made himself famous by publicizing his unstoppable technique for losing weight: drinking several glasses of water before going to the table, while drastically limiting the number of calories ingested during meals.

This method, which has conquered many Americans, has also been strongly criticized by specialists who, if they agree that water is essential for the proper functioning of the metabolism, it should not be seen as a way to lose weight.

So is water really your slimming ally? Here’s how to see more clearly.

Water works on the body to help you lose weight

When you are hungry, your body sends a signal to your brain to let it know, waiting for a response. But you should know that this is the same signal that is given when you are thirsty. In other words, an afternoon craving could quite be solved by drinking a simple glass of water.

When it is no longer an illusion but you are really hungry, water allows you to reduce this sensation by reducing your urge to eat. It therefore acts as an appetite suppressant.

It must also be known that water causes your metabolism to speed up. In other words, it gives your body more energy to function, and therefore to burn calories.

Calories that it also allows to eliminate more effectively. It is indeed always water that allows your body to get rid of accumulated fat and waste..

Water will therefore help you optimize your efforts to lose weight.

Two studies have proven it. A first, conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia, showed that in two samples of women who followed a diet, those who drank at least two liters of water per day (when the others should drink only when they were thirsty) had lost, on average, 2,3 kilos more than the seconds.

A second study, led by British researchers, also compared two groups of overweight people. When the first group was to drink half a liter of water half an hour before each meal, the second was asked to simply imagine the feeling of fullness even before eating. Conclusion at the end of this experience: participants in the first group lost, on average, 1,3 kilograms more than two in the second group.

But should we make water our diet asset? No !

Many dieticians claim that water is an ally, but absolutely not a determining element. To lose weight, a healthy, balanced diet combined with physical activity are the only really effective remedies.

« Drinking water before meals can help with weight loss if the person is eating a healthier diet and increasing their physical activity. “, Moreover conclude the authors of the British study.

Drink water to lose weight, yes, but how?

For drinking water to be truly effective, it is important to follow certain rules. Contrary to what was tested during these two studies, most nutritionists advise drinking water in reasonable amounts and regularly, rather than swallowing half a liter, or even two liters, all at once.

When we talk about water, we are of course talking about pure water. It is useless to drink two liters of coffee, tea or fruit juice, they will not have the same effect. This doesn’t mean that you should stop drinking coffee to lose weight, just that water only presents all its virtues when it is consumed naturally!

To try the benefits of the appetite suppressant effect of water, it is advisable to drink one or two glasses, no more, about 20 to 30 minutes before sitting down to the table. Be careful, this effect is short-lived, which is why it should not be overused by consuming too much water, it would only give you a good craving between two meals.

Sybille Latour

To find out more: Drink water: what, when and how much?