A group of researchers examined whether drinking an extra cup of coffee a day—or adding sugar, cream, or a nondairy alternative—resulted in more or less weight gain than those who didn’t adjust their intake.
How Was the Study Conducted? What Did It Find?
Researchers combined data from three large studies from the United States: two Nurses’ Health Studies from 1986 to 2010 and from 1991 to 2015, and a Health Professional Follow-up study from 1991 to 2014.The Nurses’ Health Studies are two of the largest cohort studies, with over 230,000 participants, and investigate chronic disease risks for women. The Health Professional Follow-up study involves over 50,000 male health professionals and investigates the relationship between diet and health outcomes.
Participants in all three studies completed a baseline questionnaire and another questionnaire every four years to assess their food and drink intake. Using the combined datasets, researchers analyzed changes in coffee intake and changes in the participants’ self-reported weight at four-year intervals.
The average four-year weight-gains for the nurses’ studies were 1.2 kilograms (2.6 pounds) and 1.7 kilograms (3.7 pounds), while participants in the health professionals study gained an average of 0.8 kilogram (1.8 pounds).
Adding creamer (milk) or a nondairy alternative did not significantly affect this weight change.
However, adding sugar (1 teaspoon) to coffee was associated with a weight gain that was 0.09 kilogram (0.20 pound) more than expected over four years.
What Are the Pros and Cons of the Study?
This study is unique in two ways. It had a very large sample size and followed participants for many years. This adds confidence that the associations were real and can likely be applied to other populations.However, there are three reasons to be cautious.
Second, the findings around weight were very modest. The average four-year weight gain averted, based on one cup of coffee, was 0.12 kilogram, which is about 30 grams (0.07 pound) per year. This amount may not be a meaningful change for most people looking to manage weight.
How Could Coffee Help With Weight Management?
Caffeine is a natural stimulant that has been shown to temporarily reduce appetite and increase alertness. This may help people feel less hungry for a short period, potentially leading to reduced energy intake.
Is It Worth Trying Coffee for Weight Loss?
Losing weight can be influenced by various factors, so don’t get too enthusiastic about the coffee-weight link highlighted in this new study or increase your coffee intake to unreasonable levels.If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is important to talk to your doctor before increasing your caffeine intake because caffeine can be passed through to your growing baby.
