If kids or overweight adults switch from soda or juice to water without changing what they eat, they tend to gain less weight over time — but if they’re on a strict diet, water doesn’t help much.

Pro

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Community contributions welcome

Negative, Null and Beneficial Effects of Drinking Water on Energy Intake, Energy Expenditure, Fat Oxidation and Weight Change in Randomized Trials: A Qualitative Review

Narrative Review

2016 Jan 2

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Negative, Null and Beneficial Effects of Drinking Water on Energy Intake, Energy Expenditure, Fat Oxidation and Weight Change in Randomized Trials: A Qualitative Review

Score: 1

DOI: 10.3390/nu8010019

Similar Assertions

Giving kids or adults water instead of soda doesn’t usually make them lose weight if they just eat more food to make up for the missing calories.

92%

If you drink water instead of soda, juice, or milk with your meals, you tend to eat less food overall, which can help you take in fewer calories.

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If overweight people swap soda for water, they gain less weight—but if they swap water for milk or juice, they gain more weight, showing what you drink matters more than just how much you drink.

89%

If you drink water instead of soda, juice, or milk with your meal, you tend to eat less food overall, which can help you take in fewer calories.

87%

When people drink water instead of soda, juice, or milk with their meals, they tend to eat less food overall, so they take in fewer calories.

86%