Does Coffee Help With Weight Loss? Here Is What Experts Have To Say

Coffee remains one of the most popular beverages in many parts of the world. However, research in this area is still ongoing, with experts working on understanding coffee’s full health benefits and how adding other ingredients may influences potential health benefits.

A study recently published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shared promising insights into the beverage’s potential benefits and risks. The results indicate drinking unsweetened coffee was associated with a small amount of weight loss.

However, adding sugar to coffee was associated with some weight gain. This research examined data from three major health studies, allowing researchers access to a large amount of data and participants. In total, they included just over 155,000 participants in their analysis.

Researchers were able to look at data from food frequency questionnaires that participants filled out at baseline and then every four years. Participants answered how often they consumed coffee and how much cream, sugar or non-dairy whitener they added.

They then also looked at the weight changes that occurred every four years. The findings indicate drinking one cup of coffee daily, whether decaf or regular, was associated with a loss of 0.12 kg of body weight over four years.

In contrast, coffee consumption that involved one teaspoon of sugar was associated with 0.09 kg of weight gain over four years. Researchers found the reported associations were stronger among participants with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and younger age.

The findings also indicate adding whitener or cream was not associated with a significant spike in the participants’ weight. However, it is important to note that moderation remains key when it comes to coffee, with people who have questions advised to seek professional help.