Not drinking enough water can increase your risk of becoming obese

Research published in journal Annals of Family Medicine this week has discovered that those who don’t keep hydrated enough had a 1.5 times greater risk of being overweight. Testing over

9,500 people between 2009-2012, the study by the University of Michigan looked at the correlation between BMI and dehydration. They uncovered there was a strong link between a higher Body

Mass Index and lack of hydration in patients tested in the experiment. Their report has now given weight to the argument that water should be a key feature in dieting. They said in their

report: “This relationship has not previously been shown on a population level and suggests that water, an essential nutrient, may deserve greater focus in weight management research and

clinical strategies.” NHS guidelines currently say we should drink between six to eight glasses of fluid a day. This can include water, milk and even hot drinks such as tea and coffee. They

believe that people with high BMIs “may behave in ways that lead them to be inadequately hydrated”, such as mistaking thirst pangs for hunger. Those who are heavier may be more likely to

overeat and quench their first with drinks laden with sugar rather than sip on a glass of water. But because of their size, researchers from the US university say that the “obese have higher

water needs” and should drink even MORE than the norm. They also claim that people with higher BMIs should increase their intake of foods that contain high water content. Eating fruits and

vegetables alone won’t be enough to help people lose weight. They instead believe that overweight people should improve their hydration generally to reap the benefits. They wrote in their

report: “Although increasing fruits and vegetables is often recommended as part of a healthy weight management strategy and is not thought to be a stand-alone intervention for obesity, obese

individuals and those with higher BMIs and increased hydration requirements may benefit from more guidance related to achieving adequate hydration through food and fluids.” It comes after

Express.co.uk told how water can help reduce bloating. Dehydration stops the body from digesting properly, which helps it it hold extra water.