Caffeine might offer some limited benefits for weight loss, but nothing that matches the beneficial health effects of a low-calorie, nutritious diet and regular exercise. When you consume fewer calories than your body uses, your weight will decrease. If you decide to use caffeine to lose weight, discuss your plans with your doctor, especially if you are being treated for a medical condition. Caffeine might interfere with the normal function of certain medications.
Thermogenesis
Caffeine might stimulate thermogenesis, which means you burn calories faster as your body produces more heat. No one knows exactly what underlying biochemical mechanisms cause this effect, but the weight loss benefits don't seem to be significant, according to MayoClinic.com. Some research shows that thermogenesis after caffeine intake increases more in non-obese people than it does in obese people, according to a literature review in the October 2006 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." In other words, caffeine's stimulation of thermogenesis might offer less benefit to those who need it most.
Appetite Suppression
Caffeine might help stave off hunger pangs or eat less food, but no long-term research shows that continual use of caffeine leads to weight loss, according to MayoClinic.com. And if you use large amounts of sugar and cream in your coffee, you can be sure the caffeine intake won't lead to a slim body.
Diuretic Effects
If you consume more than 500 to 600 mg of caffeine a day -- roughly the amount in 4 to 7 cups of coffee -- the caffeine might act as a diuretic, which means it can cause an increase in the amount of urine you produce. If your body draws water from body tissues to produce more urine, you might experience a decrease in weight. This weight loss, however, does not reflect decreasing fat stores. Rather, it is a temporary decrease in water weight, so it is not the same as achieving a healthy weight. Also, consuming that much caffeine every day can lead to jitteriness, anxiety and sleeplessness.
Warning
Weight loss pills often use caffeine as an active ingredient. But taking too much caffeine might lead to negative side effects, especially if you don't decrease the caffeine you get from other sources, such as coffee and sodas. Also, weight loss pills might contain a variety of other ingredients -- such as botanicals, herbs, vitamins, minerals or laxatives -- that can interact with any medications you're taking.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Caffeine: Can It Help Me Lose Weight?; Katherine Zeratsky; May 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Caffeine: Is It Dehydrating or Not?; Katherine Zeratsky; August 2009
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Coffee, Diabetes, and Weight Control; James A. Greenberg, et al.; October 2006
- MayoClinic.com; Over-the-Counter Weight-Loss Pills: Do They Work?; February 2010
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