Drinking more water to lose weight?

Researchers at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia asked four dozen adults aged 55 to 75 to participate in a 12 week study. They were split into two groups. One group followed a low-calorie diet only. The other group also dieted, but drank two eight-ounce glasses of water before every meal. After three months, those who drank the water lost an average of nearly five pounds more than those who simply dieted.

Researchers say water fills up the stomach without adding calories.

"People should drink more water and less sugary, high-calorie drinks. It's a simple way to facilitate weight management," study author Dr. Brenda Davy told the BBC News.

University of Rochester Medical Center obesity specialist Dr. Stephen Cook says, "It is one of the safest things we can recommend to help people lose weight."

The findings were reported Monday at the American Chemical Society's annual meeting in Boston.