60% of those surveyed know that the recommended daily amount of fluid is between two and three liters per day.
80% of respondents admit that hydration is very important for health. However, 43% are not aware that thirst is a late symptom of dehydration. These are some of the findings of a study recently conducted by Coca-Cola and TNS Gallup on a sample of more than 520 respondents from the capital of the federal state and Buenos Aires.
The research points out that only 60% know that the recommended daily amount of fluid is between two and three liters per day, and reveals the existence of a significant gap between what people declare and what they actually do. Thus, although the majority of respondents (78%) are aware that they can live without food for several weeks, but not more than one without liquid, a third declare that they do not hydrate enough (intake less than two liters per day).
When it comes to the most important moments in which hydration should be taken care of, the respondents agree that the summer season (94%) is one of the most important. Likewise, more than half of the respondents (55%) mentioned sports as another key moment in fluid intake. For 45% of those surveyed, it is important to hydrate after some physical activity; for 27%, during; and only 25% need to do it sooner. However, only 3 out of 10 people say they regularly engage in some type of physical activity.
On the other hand, it is worth noting that 32% of women highlight the period of pregnancy as one of the moments in which it is necessary to pay special attention to hydration, but only 23% know that hydration plays a fundamental role during breastfeeding. Likewise, the study shows that among the risk groups of the elderly (60+ years), a quarter of them (25%) do not know the exact amount of fluid they should consume according to their age and physical characteristics. Another 25% declare that they consume less than 2 liters per day.
Although cooling and staying healthy are the benefits most associated with hydration (58% and 60%, respectively), 58% also associate them with skin care, and 43% with good physical/intellectual performance.
The research by Coca-Cola and TNS Gallup included a special module in which mothers of children aged 2 to 12 are questioned about the importance of hydration in this segment. Furthermore, for the mothers surveyed, the taste of the drink is important for easier liquid consumption in children: as many as 65% stated that the taste of the drink facilitates the intake of liquid.
