• Researchers say caffeine could reduce obesity and diabetes risk; Know here how

    Lifestyle
    Researchers say caffeine could reduce obesity and diabetes risk; Know here how
    Excessive caffeine use may reduce body fat and minimise the risk of type 2 diabetes as well as significant cardiovascular illnesses...

    Digital Desk: Based on a study, excessive caffeine use may lower obesity, type 2 diabetes, and severe cardiovascular illnesses.

    As reported in a study published in the journal BMJ Medicine, this finding potentially links to calorie-free caffeinated drinks being used to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes. Nonetheless, more research is required regarding the study.

    Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle illness in which the body either does not create enough insulin (a hormone) or rejects its synthesis. 

    "It does not recommend or promote drinking more coffee, which was not the goal of this research," said Dr Katarina Kos, co-author of the study and senior lecturer at the University of Exeter.

    The researchers employed a method known as Mendelian randomisation to establish cause and effect using genetic data. Two common gene variations were discovered to be linked to the rate of caffeine metabolism, which was then linked to decreased BMI and body fat. 

    It was shown that weight loss was a factor in more than half of the reduction in type 2 diabetes risk, and coffee, which is known to stimulate metabolism, promote fat burning, and lower appetite, could reverse the illness.

    A daily dose of 100mg is thought to improve energy expenditure by roughly 100 calories per day.

    Nevertheless, Dr Stephen Lawrence, associate clinical professor at the University of Warwick's medical school remarked that the Mendelian assessment has its limitations as it was "susceptible to bias".
    He believes that future research could lead to the development of effective medicines. 

    However, the authors described the study as a "huge leap of faith" because weight loss caused by excessive caffeine consumption could lessen the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and be an effective calorie-reduction measure.

    Dr. Lawrence outlined that whether or not a high caffeine intake is an obesity treatment should be investigated.