Drinking water before meals can help people to lose weight, says a US study.
Scientists from Virginia found that slimmers can lose an average of 5lb extra if they drink two glasses of water three times a day before meals.
They tested the theory on 48 older adults, split into two groups, over 12 weeks.
While drinking water can make you feel full on zero calories, say researchers, too much water can also lead to serious health problems.
The researchers presented their findings at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston.
All adults who took part in the study were aged 55 to 75.
The first group followed a low-calorie diet but did not drink any extra water before meals.
People should drink more water and less sugary, high-calorie drinks. It's a simple way to facilitate weight management
Prof Brenda Davy, Virginia Tech
The second group followed the low-calorie diet but also drank two glasses of water before each meal.