Drink To Your Health: How Drinking Water Can Prevent Disease and Sustain Health

Water is essential for human life. All the activities of the body (respiration, cardiovascular function, substrate transport, digestion, temperature regulation, cellular homeostasis) depend on water to function. An acute or chronic deficit of body water results in dehydration and disruption of metabolic and physiological processes, leading to severe impairments to health and wellbeing. Dehydration is a risk factor for many medical conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer, pregnancy complications, urinary tract infection, kidney stones, gastrointestinal disease, eating disorders, and neurocognitive disorders.1

Data from epidemiologic studies suggest that the estimated prevalence of chronic dehydration among American adults may range from 25% to as high as 60%.1, 2 Research also suggests that elderly individuals, hospitalized and chronically ill patients, and infants and young children are at particular risk of dehydration, due to inadequate water intake, limited access to water, and/or increased fluid needs.1 Internationally, the prevalence of dehydration in elderly nursing home residents had been estimated to be as high as 38%.3 Data from the 2009-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) demonstrated that the risk of death among 1200 adults aged 51-70 years with chronic diseases was four times higher among poorly hydrated individuals. Over 65% of the individuals in this sample were determined to be underhydrated.2, NHANES data from the same time period revealed that the prevalence of dehydration among 4134 children aged six to nine years was 54%.4 A study published in France in 2022 showed that 33% of formula-fed infants and children aged 0.5 months to three years experienced poor hydration.5

Despite the unfavorable effects of dehydration on health and disease risk, it is often overlooked, undiagnosed and untreated by clinicians. Recent data tracking the economic impact of chronic dehydration are scarce. However, dehydration is recognized as a major cause of avoidable hospitalizations and was responsible for 5.5 billion dollars in health care costs in the United States in 2004.6

1. Armstrong LE, Johnson EC. Water intake, water balance, and the elusive daily water requirement. Nutrients. 2018; 10(12):1928.
2. Stookey JD (1), Kavouras SA, Suh HG, Lang F. Underhydration Is associated with obesity, chronic diseases, and death within 3 to 6 years in the U.S. population aged 51–70 years. Nutrients. 2020; 12:905.
3. Paulis SJ, Everink IH, Halfens RJ, Lohrmann C, Wirnsberger RR, Gordon AL, Schols JM. Diagnosing dehydration in the nursing home: international consensus based on a modified Delphi study. Eur. Ger. Med. 2020; 11:393-402
4. Kenney EL, Long MW, Cradock AL, Gortmaker SL. Prevalence of inadequate hydration among US children and disparities by gender and race/ethnicity: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2012. Am. J. Public Health. 2015; 108(8):e113-e118
5. Chouraqui J-P, Thornton SN, Seconda L, Kavouras SA. Total water intake and its contributors in infants and young children. Br. J. Nutr. 2022; 128:531-541. 
6. Beck AM, Seemer J, Knudsen AW, Munk T. Narrative review of low-intake dehydration in older adults. Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3142

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, nutrition professionals will be better able to: 

  1. Understand the physiology of human hydration. 
  2. Identify the types and causes of dehydration. 
  3. Use appropriate assessment methods and tools to determine hydration status. 
  4. Identify interventions and strategies for preventing and treating dehydration. 
  5. Provide clients with recommendations for improving fluid intakes. 

Additional Information

CDR Activity Type: 
102
CPE Level: 
2
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 10.00 CDR
Course opens: 
07/08/2026
Course expires: 
07/07/2029
Cost:
$104.95
Rating: 
0

Mary Franz, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian and freelance health and science writer. Her work has appeared in Today’s Dietitian, IDEA Health & Fitness, Scientific American Mind, and other publications. She lives and works outside of Boston, Massachusetts. 

Disclosures

 

Mary Franz, MS, RDN, faculty for this activity, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose. 

The planners for this educational activity have no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose. 

An “ineligible company” includes any entity whose primary business is 

 

In support of improving patient care, Great Valley Publishing Company (publisher of Wolf Rinke Associates) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

This activity will also award credit for dietetics (CDR CPEU). 

RDs and DTRs are to select activity type 102 in their Activity Log. Sphere and Competency selection is at the learner’s discretion. 

Available Credit

  • 10.00 CDR

Price

Cost:
$104.95
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