Most people associate stretch marks with weight gain, but you can also develop stretch marks from rapid weight loss. New research reveals the states with the highest number of prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Mounjaro is a diabetes medication that may help with weight loss. Here's what you need to know about purchasing it without insurance. Eating up to three servings of kimchi each day is linked to a reduced rate of obesity among men, according to a new study.

This study is observational…. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based How Drinking More Water Can Help You Lose Weight. By Adda Bjarnadottir, MS, RDN Ice — Updated on February 17, How we vet brands and products Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?

Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence? Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. Read more about our vetting process. Was this helpful? Drinking Water Can Make You Burn More Calories.

Drinking Water Before Meals Can Reduce Appetite. Drinking More Water is Linked to Reduced Calorie Intake and a Lower Risk of Weight Gain. How Much Water Should You Drink? Take Home Message. How we reviewed this article: History.

Feb 17, Written By Adda Bjarnadottir, MS, RDN Ice. Jun 4, Written By Adda Bjarnadottir, MS, RDN Ice. Share this article. Read this next. GLP-1 Drugs Like Ozempic and Mounjaro Linked to Lower Risk of Depression Patients with diabetes who used GLP-1 drugs, including tirzepatide, semaglutide, dulaglutide, and exenatide had a decreased chance of being diagnosed… READ MORE.

Does Vaping Make You Lose Weight? Medically reviewed by Danielle Hildreth, RN, CPT. Your body stores excess carbs that it does not use right away in your cells as glycogen, which has three grams of water. Most people on a 2,calorie diet need grams of carbs per day.

Try swapping bread and pasta for meat, fish, or poultry to cut down on your carb intake. Excess cortisol, the stress hormone, may increase water weight. Cortisol levels directly correlate to antidiuretic hormone ADH levels.

ADH communicates with your kidneys to control the amount of water in your body. Electrolytes , like magnesium and potassium, help manage the amount of water that your body stores.

As a result, you might gain water weight if your electrolyte levels are out of balance. Water does not have electrolytes, so reach for a sports drink to replenish them. You might also consider electrolyte supplements if you are significantly increasing or decreasing your water intake.

Dandelion and magnesium supplements might help manage water weight. Research has found that dandelion has a diuretic effect. Magnesium is an electrolyte that helps control the amount of water inside your body.

Some evidence suggests that vitamin B6 supplements reduce bloating and decrease premenstrual syndrome PMS symptoms. More research is needed to know exactly how vitamin B6 affects PMS symptoms. There are several factors that result in excess fluid in your body.

Some of the most common causes include eating too much salt, sitting for long periods, and taking certain medications. Some blood pressure drugs, like calcium channel blockers, increase fluid retention.

Certain anti-inflammatory medications like corticosteroids also cause your body to hold onto sodium and lose potassium, resulting in added water weight. Talk to a healthcare provider to determine if your medication is the cause of water weight.

They might be able to provide an alternative medication. Cortisol is best known as a stress hormone, although it's much more than that. The hormone helps keep your blood sugar and blood pressure levels stable, supports metabolism, reduces inflammation, and helps form memories.

Although rare, fluid retention might be the result of elevated cortisol levels. Cushing syndrome, for instance, might cause your body to hold on to sodium. This disorder occurs when tumors on the adrenal and pituitary glands release too much cortisol into your blood.

Some people with an underactive thyroid hypothyroidism may have swelling around their eyes. Estrogen and progestin, hormones in birth control pills , might increase fluid retention. This water weight is usually temporary and not significant.

Still, you may want to talk to a healthcare provider about other birth control options if you are uncomfortable. Fluctuating hormones cause many people to retain water the week before their period.

You might also notice swelling in your breasts, causing tenderness, during that time. Swelling in the legs is also common. Your circulatory system naturally becomes weaker as you age. The valves in the veins of your legs, which keep blood flowing upward to your heart, collapse a little.

As a result, blood pools in your legs and causes fluid retention. Severe health conditions, like congestive heart failure, also cause poor circulation. Pregnancy may cause you to gain water weight, especially as you get closer to your due date.

You may see swelling in your hands, feet, or ankles. Hormones are partly to blame, but the growing fetus also places strain on your blood vessels. Keep in mind that water weight may not all come off the minute after delivery.

You might have developed a blood clot if you suddenly have swelling that hurts, especially in one leg. Get immediate medical attention if that's the case. One of the most common causes of water weight is excess salt in your diet. Sodium binds with water and traps it in your body.

Carbs can also impact fluid retention, especially if you start adding them back after a period of restricting them. Glycogen pulls in water. As a result, the more glycogen your body stores, the more water you take in. Sitting for long periods on cross-country flights or long road trips can cause water retention.

Your muscles contract from sitting too long. Your feet and legs may swell in response as fluid pools there. Water weight is not typically a cause for concern. You can typically lose water weight using home remedies.

Still, excess fluid build-up and swelling are sometimes signs of a severe health condition, such as heart, liver, or kidney disease. See a healthcare provider if you have:. There are many possible causes of water weight, including eating a lot of salty and sugary foods, sitting for long periods, and taking certain medications.

Try these tips to help you get rid of that extra fluid. Some lifestyle changes might help. Try getting enough sleep, reducing your salt intake, and staying hydrated. Talk to a healthcare provider for additional help if water weight affects your quality of life and makes you uncomfortable.

Water weight and edema are sometimes signs of severe health conditions, such as congestive heart failure and DVT. You might require medications, like blood thinners or diuretics, to manage those illnesses. Sara is a staff writer for Live Science, covering health.

She grew up outside of Philadelphia and studied biology at Hamilton College in upstate New York. When she's not writing, she can be found at the library, checking out a big stack of books. More about food diet. Scientists tested 10 meals to find the perfect food for space travel.

TOPICS water. Water [OLD VERSION]. Most Popular. MOST READ MOST SHARED. US Space Force may have accidentally punched a hole in the upper atmosphere. Hidden DNA found in blue whales reveals they've been mating with other species — and their hybrid offspring.

Diving bell spider: The only aquatic arachnid that creates a web underwater to live in. Is it possible to have too many antioxidants? Massive hydrogen reservoir discovered beneath an Albanian mine could be an untapped source of clean energy. Undeciphered script from Easter Island may predate European colonization.