Coffee May be Good For Your Waistline

That cup of joe in the morning is a pick-me-upper for most but it also may be a cup of medicine for some. A newly published study analyzing data from almost 10,000 people found that a higher level of caffeine in plasma concentrations predicted lower body mass index (BMI), lower body fat mass, and even lower incidents of type 2 diabetes.

The study actually measured certain genetic markers that affect the absorption and metabolizing of caffeine, and found statistically high correlations between caffeine levels and BMI and Type 2 diabetes. No correlation was found to other diseases like atrial fibrillation, heart failure and stroke.

While some of these results had been published before, the new study added more details to the knowledge base on caffeine. While there are still questions about the long-term effects of caffeine use, short term effects as reported in the study are quite positive.

The study adds physical benefits to the list of positive impacts shown in previous studies. There is growing evidence that caffeine reduces the incidence, or delays the onset, of dementia and increases the level of alertness and focus (of interest in particular to those who have forms of ADHD). Most studies indicate that up to 4 cups of coffee are perfectly okay for most adults. It’s not all positive, though, because caffeine can also increase levels of anxiety for those who are susceptible to anxiety.

Since the current study focused on plasma levels of caffeine using genetic markers, it also was not able to examine the effects of high calorie specialty coffee drinks on BMI and diabetes: while an 8 ounce cup of black coffee has only a negligible 1-5 calories, adding a tablespoon of sugar adds 49 calories and a tablespoon of half and half milk adds 20 calories. Compare that to a latte at the coffee shop with 190 calories , a caramel macchiato at 250 (roughly equal to a candy bar), and a white chocolate mocha at a whopping 430 calories (about the same as a double cheeseburger at a popular restaurant chain). In other words, keep it simple! A regular drip or french press coffee may be one step on the way to a slimmer waist.

Reference: Susanna C Larsson, Benjamin Woolf, Dipender Gill. Appraisal of the causal effect of plasma caffeine on adiposity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease: two sample mendelian randomisation study. BMJ Medicine Jan 2023, 2 (1) e000335; DOI: 10.1136/bmjmed-2022-000335