Did you know "how to lose weight" is one of the most popular health-related searches on Google? Every day, countless pieces of content are produced on this topic, with a large number of audiences seeking solutions. Social media platforms are overflowing with tips, tricks, and hacks to shed extra kilos, making weight loss a trending subject for millions.
One such popular weight loss hack making waves is the "Water Trick," introduced by nutritionist Alan Aragon during a podcast on The Model Health Show. If you haven't heard of it yet, read to know all about this trending weight loss strategy.
What Is ‘Water Trick’ For Weight Loss?![]()
Alan Aragon's "Water Trick" is a simple yet effective strategy to help increase feelings of fullness and potentially reduce overall calorie intake.
The method involves drinking two glasses of water before meals to help control hunger and boost satiety, making it easier to avoid overeating and keep excess calories at bay.
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"There's something really interesting about satiety and what I call the 'water trick'. You can actually preload with plain water before each meal. You will eat significantly less following the water preloading. This is a good thing to do when you go out to eat dinner, especially. Two tall glasses of water upon sitting down before they bring over the fresh bread and the butter: that will significantly cut the amount of calories you end up eating,” he said in the podcast.
Drinking Water During Meals![]()
According to Alan, water should be drunk with food.
During the podcast, he said, "I always get the question: Doesn't drinking water with a meal dilute the digestive enzymes, and then you won't digest the meal properly? There's really no evidence for that. I understand what people are thinking about, but when you look at populations that eat a lot of soup, they could not be having more water with their meals, and they are digesting stuff just fine. So, I don't think people need to worry about that if they decide to use the ‘water trick’ to put a top-speed limiter on the cheesecake that they have after their main meal.”
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In a post on Instagram, the nutritionist wrote, "The “Water Trick” is a uniquely effective tactic for dieters because it puts the focus on adding or increasing intake instead of reducing or taking it away. It’s ideal for occasions such as eating at restaurants or social/family gatherings."
"The attached are my own research-adapted methods that work consistently in the trenches. The upper end of the guidelines (bravely) exceed the doses in the study protocols :). I nudged the 30 minutes down to a max of 20 minutes as well. Lo & behold, this almost never fails to curb the desire for large food servings, a second plate, or a post-meal dessert," he added further.
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What Research Says![]()
Research also suggests that drinking water with meals can have benefits, and there is no solid evidence that it will cause digestive issues.
A 2010 study published in the journal Obesity found that drinking 500 ml of water before meals can help middle-aged and older adults lose weight more effectively when combined with a calorie-restricted diet.
While water consumption initially reduced meal intake, this effect was not sustained over 12 weeks. Nevertheless, the overall weight loss was significantly greater in the group that drank water before meals compared to the group that did not.
Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that drinking 500 ml of water can increase metabolism by 30% for up to 40 minutes.
In conclusion, when it comes to drinking water with meals, do what works best for you and your body. If you experience any issues, such as bloating, avoid drinking water during meals. If not, then suit your health and overall well-being.