Q:
I’ve heard that caffeine can help you lose weight. Is it true?
Kelley H., Germantown, NY
A:
Caffeine is a stimulant, which speeds up your metabolism (your body’s way of using energy, or calories). So, consuming large amounts of it should help you lose weight, right? Wrong.
While a few studies indicate that large amounts of caffeine may slightly enhance weight loss in people who exercise and maintain a low-fat diet, your metabolism is revved up only for a short time after you consume caffeine; however, consuming anything less than the equivalent of six cups of strong coffee per day doesn’t seem to greatly increase the body’s ability to burn calories. It also doesn’t result in significant loss of body fat. In fact, attempting to use caffeinated beverages as a weight loss device may be counterproductive because many contain large quantities of sugar and fat, which translates into extra calories consumed.
Thus, consuming foods with caffeine does do not cause weight loss. The best way to lose weight is to cut back on what you eat and be more physically active. If drinking a cup of coffee or tea helps you stay alert while you exercise, go for it.