The hidden dangers of poor hydration habits
Second annual ‘Hydration for Health’ scientific meeting offers range of solutions to the hydration challenge
Paris, France – July 16th – At the second annual ‘Hydration for Health’ Scientific meeting, leading experts
from across the globe gathered to hear the latest scientific and medical evidence around current hydration
habits. Throughout a series of keynote addresses and open forums, several key themes emerged, including:
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New research shows minor levels of dehydration have significant impact on performance
Thirst alone is not a reliable indicator of the need to hydrate
Improving hydration habits could help to reduce health costs
New tools unveiled to help with practical implementation
Small change, big impact
New research presented at the meeting by Professor Lawrence Armstrong, specialist in sports physiology
and an expert in hydration, demonstrated the importance of maintaining hydration levels. When a group
of healthy volunteers were dehydrated by 1.5%, it had a significant impact on their mood and cognitive
performance. “Thirst tends not to appear until we’re between 1 and 2 % dehydrated, so this study confirms
that even when subjects were unaware they were dehydrated, they were already experiencing its
detrimental impact. This underlines the importance of good hydration on a regular basis regardless of sex”,
concluded Armstrong.
Maintaining hydration levels protects kidney health
The importance of drinking enough was further highlighted by Professor Ivan Tack, an expert in renal
pathophysiology at the Hopital de Rangeuil, Toulouse, “Drinking enough to prevent thirst and to get clear
urine all day long, enables the body to get rid of soluble waste and helps guard against issues like kidney
stones and urinary tract infections”, said Tack.
Poor hydration habits have social and economic consequences
Poor dietary and lifestyle habits are behind many of the emerging global health problems. In China today,
more than 4% of the total GNP is spent dealing with obesity related illnesses including coronary heart
disease and diabetes. “Whilst the critical state of the obesity crisis is widely acknowledged in the US, Mexico
and the United Kingdom, this could be a truly global phenomenon within ten years unless substantial
changes in dietary and exercise habits are encouraged. A move to encourage the choice of water as an
alternative to sugary drinks would make a huge difference in helping to mitigate this growing pandemic,”
explained Barry Popkin, Professor of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina.
Rising incidences of urinary tract infections and kidney stones are another unwelcome and costly trend for
health services. High urine concentration is a recognised indicator and, once again, encouraging regular
water consumption was proposed to avoid recurrence and as a potential simple contribution to prevention.
Helping healthcare practitioners to address this area
With a consensus in place on the need to tackle this issue, a new website: http://www.h4hinitiative.com
was launched that provides a wealth of information for consumers and healthcare practitioners alike, on all
aspects of healthy hydration. This includes a hydration calculator, an on-line tool that provides an
individualised liquid intake recommendation based on a person’s lifestyle/lifestage parameters, and also
alerts to potential over-consumption of caloric beverages. Another solution on show was a hydration chart
that helps to pinpoints a person’s hydration level based on the colour of their urine sample.
“The solutions presented today offer healthcare practitioners support as they begin to have conversations
with patients about healthy hydration habits. The simple and interactive elements of each tool will appeal
to patients as they empower them with the knowledge to take responsibility in their journey towards a
healthier lifestyle,” says David Haslam, H4H Expert working Group member, GP and Chairman of the UK
National Obesity Forum.
For further information on the event, please view the video report that is available on the healthcare
professionals section of the Hydration for Health website: http://www.h4hinitiative.com/videos/2ndannual-h4h-scientific-meeting/
For more information please contact:
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Eamonn Collins
020 7300 6192
eamonn.collins@bm.com
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