A study suggests that controlling what you drink may be an important key to long term loss of weight. Cutting liquid calories may be what is needed for weight loss.
Researchers examined the relationship between what people ate and drank, and weight loss. There were two findings.
A reduction in the calories consumed in beverages was associated with weight loss. This is a bit of a no-brainer. Less calories in, the greater the potential to lose weight.
The second finding was that the amount of calories consumed in beverages had a greater effect on weight loss than the number of calories consumed in solid food. In the study cutting calories in both solid food and beverages resulted in weight loss. However, at follow up, 6 and 12 months later, those that were not getting as many calories from drinks had significant weight change.
The study found that the culprit seems to be sweetened beverages. One explanation is that foods or drinks high in simple sugars stimulate appetite (see Fructose messes with appetite control). So sweetened beverages that make you consume more.
In addition, many people do not really think so much about what they drink as what they eat. For instance a Starbucks medium size mocha frappucino has 380 calories and 47g (a bit less than two ounces) of sugar. I have a friend who is on a diet pretty much permanently, who has a Starbucks coffee drink most day.
Perhaps giving up that mocha frappucino or soda will reduce the calories enough to tip us over into the weight loss category.
photo credit: sillygwailo
[tags]liquid calories, weight loss, sweetened beverages, drinking[/tags]
