Intake of water from foods, but not water from beverages, is related to lower body mass index and waist circumference in free-living humans [corrected].
OBJECTIVE
Experimental trials using test meals suggest that water promotes satiety and decreases subsequent intake, thus possibly working to prevent obesity, when it is consumed as an integral component of a food, but not when consumed alone or alongside a food. We examined the associations of intake of water from beverages and intake of water from foods with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference in free-living humans consuming self-selected diets.


METHODS
This observational cross-sectional study included 1136 female Japanese dietetic students 18-22 y of age. Dietary intake was assessed with a validated, self-administered, comprehensive, diet-history questionnaire. BMI was calculated using measured body height and weight. Waist circumference was measured at the level of the umbilicus.


RESULTS
Means +/- standard deviations of BMI, waist circumference, intake of water from beverages, and intake of water from foods were 21.3 +/- 2.7 kg/m(2), 72.9 +/- 7.1 cm, 569 +/- 318 g/1000 kcal, and 476 +/- 110 g/1000 kcal, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, intake of water from beverages was not associated with BMI (P for trend = 0.25) or waist circumference (P for trend = 0.43). Conversely, intake of water from foods showed independent and negative associations with BMI (P for trend = 0.030) and waist circumference (P for trend = 0.0003).


CONCLUSIONS
Intake of water from foods, but not water from beverages, was independently associated with lower BMI and waist circumference in free-living humans consuming self-selected diets.
Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Kentaro
K
Murakami
Satoshi
S
Sasaki
Yoshiko
Y
Takahashi
Kazuhiro
K
Uenishi
D000293:Adolescent; D001628:Beverages; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004326:Drinking / Q000502:physiology*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D014867:Water