Nutritionists clarify tea consumption does not equate to fat loss

Nutritionists clarify that drinking tea after meals to relieve greasiness does not equate to fat loss. While many use tea as a weight-loss tool, experts emphasize that reducing body fat requires long-term adjustments to diet and lifestyle to ensure energy expenditure exceeds intake.

Citing a systematic review published in the ‘British Journal of Nutrition’ involving 1,710 adults, research showed that green tea drinkers lost approximately 1.61 kg more than water drinkers over a 10-week period. This effect may be linked to catechins, specifically EGCG, which may influence energy metabolism and fat oxidation. However, the weight loss observed did not meet the 5% threshold considered clinically significant, and no substantial weight loss effects were observed specifically in overweight or obese groups.

Experts warn against consuming excessive amounts of concentrated tea or extracts to force weight loss, as high caffeine intake can cause palpitations, insomnia, and gastrointestinal issues, while high doses of green tea extracts may pose risks to liver health. For effective weight management, it is recommended to reduce high-oil, high-sugar, and ultra-processed foods while increasing vegetable and high-quality protein intake.