Replacing calorie-laden beverages with water or diet soft drinks can help people lose 4 to 5 pounds, health experts say.

In a new study, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers compared weight loss for 318 overweight or obese people, who were divided into three groups: those who switched from calorie-laden beverages to diet soft drinks; those who switched to water; and those who were not counselled to change beverages but received general information about healthy choices that could lead to weight loss.