Drinking Warm Water in the Morning is Claimed to Detoxify and Lose Weight, Is it True?

JAKARTA - Not long ago, TikTok went viral regarding the claim of the benefits of drinking warm water in the morning before breakfast. Many say that this habit can help digestion, reduce bloating, detox, and lose weight.

However, in fact, these benefits have not been fully supported by scientific evidence. Quoted from the New York Times, on Thursday, March 5, 2026, drinking warm water does help activate the digestive system and maintain body hydration.

However, claims such as detoxification or weight loss still have no studies to prove it. Gastroenterologist, Dr. Lisa Ganjhu, said that drinking water after waking up can indeed help activate the digestive system.

According to him, digestive activity slows down when a person sleeps. When they eat or drink after waking up, the body will trigger contractions in the muscles of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines.

This movement can help encourage gas and stool in the digestive tract, so some people will feel their stomach is lighter and not bloated.

"It's like signaling the body, 'come on, we're starting to work'," said Ganjhu.

However, regarding warm water being able to help detox the body or remove toxins from the body, experts insist that it is not true. Nutritionist Kristen Smith said that the body's detoxification process is carried out by the liver and kidneys, not by the water you drink.

"Water does not remove toxins from the body," said Smith.

The claim that warm water can help lose weight has also not been supported by strong scientific evidence. A person may look like they have lost weight temporarily after a bowel movement, but that does not mean that warm water causes weight loss.