Is Coffee Good for Weight Loss?

In a breakthrough study that gives caffeine an unexpected edge, researchers from the University of Nottingham are claiming that coffee could be a secret weapon in the fight against obesity and diabetes. According to the team, drinking one cup of coffee a day can activate 'brown fat' and help the body defend itself against weight gain and blood sugar imbalances.

The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports and explore how different components affect brown fat functions in the human body. Also known as brown adipose tissue (BAT), brown fat is one of two fats present in humans, as well as hibernating mammals. Its key function is to burn calories and convert them into body heat. This has won it a reputation as a 'good' fat, unlike white fat which actively captures and stores excess calories.

"Brown fat works in a different way to other fat in your body and produces heat by burning sugar and fat, often in response to cold," explains Professor Michael Symonds, co-director of the study.

Stem cell studies and thermal imaging power new research

The team began by carrying out stem cell studies to see if caffeine had an impact on brown fat activity. After pinpointing the optimal dose, they then carried out the tests on humans. Using a specially developed thermal imaging technique to trace BAT reserves, they found that caffeine actively stimulates brown fat and encourages the human body to burn calories.

"This is the first study in humans to show that something like a cup of coffee can have a direct effect on our brown fat functions. The potential implications of our results are pretty big, as obesity is a major health concern for society and we also have a growing diabetes epidemic and brown fat could potentially be part of the solution in tackling them."

A potential treatment for obesity and diabetes

Now, the team are investigating what makes coffee a BAT stimulant and whether caffeine supplements have the same effect.

"Once we have confirmed which component is responsible for this, it could potentially be used as part of a weight management regime or as part of glucose regulation programme to help prevent diabetes," predicts Symonds.

As shown by the latest University of Nottingham study, imaging plays a central role in supporting new scientific research. For an introduction to the latest CAMSIZER M1 technology, don't miss 'How to perform fully automated static image analysis simply and accurately.'