Green tea supplementation may help people with obesity lose weight.
Is green tea good or bad for your health? For years, this drink rich in flavonoids and caffeine has been the subject of scientific controversy. Some studies have shown that green tea could protect against intestinal inflammation, fight antibiotic resistance, help against rheumatoid arthritis and even have benefits against cancer. Others on the contrary assure that it has no anti-cancer properties. However, where scientists seem to agree is on its anti-obesity properties. Indeed, numerous studies have shown that its compounds could help increase fat oxidation and even improve insulin activity. Today, a meta-analysis whose results appeared on May 5 in the journal Physiotherapy Research assures that green tea can help with weight loss.
“The effects of green tea (GT) in obese subjects have been evaluated in different studies, but no consensus has been reached due to the heterogeneity of the results. The dosage, the type of extracts and the duration of the intervention are the main factors that contribute to the heterogeneity of the results”note the researchers.
They therefore decided to analyze 26 randomized controlled trials carried out on a total of 1,344 participants. These observations showed that the weight and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects decreased significantly after they consumed the tea for more than 12 weeks, at a dose of less than 800 mg per day. The researchers also noticed that the weight loss was even greater when the dosage was lower than 500 mg per day for twelve weeks. In contrast, the analysis showed no significant change in waist circumference (a measure of abdominal fat) from green tea supplementation.
“The results of the present meta-analysis study support the use of green tea for the improvement of obesity indices. Thus, we suggest that the use of green tea can be combined with a balanced and healthy diet and regular exercise in the management of obese patients”conclude the researchers.
Obesity, a global health challenge
Obesity corresponds to an excess of fat mass and a change in adipose tissue. We consider an obese person when his BMI is greater than 30. This disease results from the intertwining of several factors, dietary, genetic and environmental and today affects almost the entire planet, including many emerging countries.
In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults were overweight (BMI greater than 25) worldwide, according to the latest WHO figures. Among them, more than 650 million were obese. This condition can lead to many complications such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis or cancer, to such an extent that overweight and obesity are now recognized as the fifth leading cause of death worldwide.
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