Which statement best reflects the evidence about the claim that drinking cold water burns more calories than drinking room-temperature water?

• A. Cold water causes the body to stop burning calories until the water reaches body temperature.
• B. Drinking cold water decreases energy expenditure because the body does not need to thermoregulate after ingestion.
• C. Drinking cold water burns enough calories to cause significant weight loss without changing diet or physical activity.
• D. Drinking cold water may slightly increase energy expenditure because the body warms the water, but the calorie burn is small and not a meaningful weight-loss strategy on its own.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of thermogenesis, which is the process by which the body produces heat, often by burning calories, to maintain its core temperature.
2. Recognize that when cold water is ingested, the body expends some energy to warm the water to body temperature, which can slightly increase energy expenditure.
3. Calculate the theoretical calorie burn by using the specific heat capacity of water and the temperature difference between cold water and body temperature. The formula to estimate energy required is: \(Q = m \times c \times \Delta T\), where \(m\) is the mass of water, \(c\) is the specific heat capacity, and \(\Delta T\) is the temperature change.
4. Convert the energy calculated (in joules) to calories (note: 1 calorie = 4.184 joules) to estimate how many calories are burned by warming the water.
5. Evaluate the practical significance of this calorie burn in the context of overall daily energy expenditure and weight loss, understanding that the increase is minimal and not sufficient alone for meaningful weight loss.