Study Links Obesity to Inadequate Hydration

Individuals who are obese and have a higher body mass index (BMI) are more likely to be insufficiently hydrated, according to University of Michigan researchers, who say that hydration may be an overlooked part of adult weight-management strategies.

The authors, who note that hydration has recently been considered a key component of a weight-loss diet, evaluated a nationally representative sample of 9528 adults from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Approximately one-third of participants, who ranged in age from 18 to 64 years, were not adequately hydrated.
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The researchers found that individuals with higher BMIs, who are expected to have greater water needs, might also display behaviors that lead to poor hydration. Still, the authors caution that the cross-sectional nature of their data cannot definitively determine whether inadequate hydration causes obesity, or vice versa.

While pointing out that these results are "not enough to suggest any formal changes to the treatment or management of obese patients," lead author Tammy Chang, MD, MPH, MS, says the findings do suggest "a relationship between hydration and weight status among adults on a population level in the United States."

Regardless of weight or BMI, "staying well-hydrated is good for your health," said Dr Chang, an assistant professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Michigan.

"Our study suggests that staying hydrated may play a role in weight and vice versa," she added. "Eating fruits and vegetables, which are foods that have high water content, is good for you not just because of the nutrients they deliver to the body, but also because they can improve hydration."

—Mark McGraw

Reference

Chang T, Ravi N, Plegue MA, Sonneville KR, Davis MM. Inadequate hydration, BMI, and obesity among US adults: NHANES 2009-2012. Ann Fam Med. 2016;14(4):320-324.