In the study at the University of Birmingham, obese adults were monitored over a 12-week period as they attempted to lose weight through dieting.

The participants who ate three meals and drank 16 ounces of water before every meal lost about 2.87 lbs. more than the other dieters.

“The beauty of these findings is in the simplicity,” according to researcher Dr. Helen Parretti. “Just drinking a pint of water, three times a day, before your main meals may help reduce your weight.”

In the study, dieters drank tap water and were not allowed to drink sparkling water.