Water load test in children

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate values for the water load test in healthy elementary school children. Methods: We measured the volume of water consumed by 176 children (71 boys and 105 girls) using the water load test at school. Children completed a questionnaire, which included self-efficacy and abdominal pain history. Then subjects drank water for 3 minutes or until full. Results: Children drank 630 ± 260 ml. Water consumption correlated with age, weight, and height. Children who believed they could drink a lot, drank more than those who thought they could not, P < 0.01. Conclusion: The water load test is a simple and inexpensive method to estimate onset of satiety and may be useful in future studies now that there are values for healthy children.