Tea consumption
and body composition
Nutrition Research Newsletter, Oct, 2003
Oolong tea extract is thought to enhance noradrenaline-induced lipolysis in adipose tissue and inhibit pancreatic lipase activity, therefore suggesting an anti-obesity action of tea consumption. Whether these experimental findings could be extrapolated into the change of percent body fat (BF%) in humans is questionable. Tea has also been proven to express a cardiovascular-protective and lipid-lowering effect. In the present study, an epidemiologically sampled Chinese cohort who habitually consumed tea was assessed. Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were used to measure the BF% and body fat distribution, respectively.
A cross-sectional survey of 1210 sampled adults (569 men and 641 women), were enrolled in the study. A total of 1103 adults were analyzed in this report. Subjects were not dieting or following any course of weight control during the study. Tea consumption and other lifestyle characteristics were obtained using structured questionnaires.
Among the 1103 subjects analyzed, 473 (42.9%) were habitual tea drinkers. Of these habitual tea drinkers, 455 were green or oolong tea consumers and 18 were black tea consumers. The mean duration of tea consumption was approximately 10.26 years and the average daily amount consumed was 434.3 mL among habitual tea drinkers. In the dose-response analysis, subjects were categorized into four subgroups by their duration of tea consumption, nonhabitual (620 subjects), 1 year to 5 years (200 subjects), 6 years to 10 years (143 subjects), and more than 10 years (140 subjects). After adjustment for age, BMI, total physical activity, favored food intake, and major lifestyle covariates, the levels of BF%, waist circumference, hip circumference, and WHR were found to be lowest among subjects who consumed tea habitually for more than 10 years compared with the other three subgroups.
In general, those who had maintained the habit of tea consumption for more than 10 years had a reduction of 19.6% of BF% and 2.1% of WHR compared with non-habitual subjects. Therefore, long-term habitual tea consumption may influence fat metabolism. These findings indicate that tea could be used as a possible, healthy, weight loss beverage.
C Wu, F Lu, C Chang, T Chang, R Wang, C Chang. Relationship among Habitual Tea Consumption, Percent Body Fat, and Body Fat Distribution. Obes Res 11(9):1088-1095 (September 2003). [Correspondence: Chin-Jen Chang, Department of Family Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 70428, Taiwan. Email: paulo@mail.ncku.edu.tw]
COPYRIGHT 2003 Frost & Sullivan
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group
Recent Articles
- Tea consumption and body composition
- Brewing up the latest tea research
- Oolong tea shown to promote weight loss
- 7 diet rules you must break
Certified Testimonials
"I have lost 43 pounds in the last 4 months by drinking Dr. Chong's Wu-Long Tea™! I have never felt better about any diet. I still get to eat the foods I like, not feel guilty, and the pounds just disappear. I think anyone should try this, it was the best decision I ever made."
- Jennifer McDill; Spanish Fork, UT
"After we got pictures from our vacation from last summer developed, I realized that I was HUGE. I knew I had been putting on weight over the past few years, but I just kept telling myself it wasn't that bad, or that it was normal at my age. But after seeing myself in a bathing suit it really made me realize that I had to do something about it. I started eating less junk food, I tried to cook healthier, and I started walking around the block whenever I had the chance. I lost a couple of pounds making those simple changes, but it wasn't until a girl I work with started getting me to drink the tea that I really started to lose weight. I have lost a total of 76lbs. My husband is so proud of me, he tells me all the time how sexy I am, and I'm proud of myself. Even my coworker has lost 23lbs. Thank you for such an amazing product."
- Vickie Brady; Terre Haute, IN
"When I first started college I put on a lot more than the freshman 15 - more like the freshman 35. When spring break rolled around I was too embarrassed to go to the beach with my friends and I knew I had to lose the extra weight. I got on the internet that day and found Dr. Chong's Wu-Long Tea™, I was doubtful that it would work like it said it did, but I was desperate and I hate taking pills, so I ordered a one month supply. After the first month supply was gone I had lost 18lbs. Needless to say I ordered more. Now I'm smaller than I was when I started college. I have no problems putting on a swimsuit. Once my friends found out what my secret was they all started drinking the tea too. Between the 5 of us we have lost well over 80lbs. I LOVE Dr. Chong's Wu-Long Tea™. I'm at my goal weight, but I still drink it because I want to stay this way."
- Sarah Pierce; Lincoln, NE
"My name is Emily and I am a mother of two. After I had my second child I really wanted to lose some of this weight I had put on through my pregnancies and being a mom on the go. I didn't really have time to eat right and keeping up with two kids was all the workout I could handle a day. Then I found this amazing product, Dr. Chong's Wu-Long Tea™ it sounded perfect for me something quick, easy, and didn't require me changing every aspect of my life. I have now been taking it for 3 months and have already lost 46 pounds and I am so grateful to Dr. Chong's Wu-Long Tea™. I am starting to be able to wear my skinny jeans again and it is helping my confidence so much I am feeling beautiful again the way I used too. I would say to anyone having trouble with losing weight try this it will be the best thing you'll ever do. It has made such a difference in me my confidence, my appearance, how other people see me, and most important how I see myself. Thank you Dr. Chong's Wu-Long Tea™."
- Emily Foster; Golden, CO
"This is Katlyn I started college about 3 years ago and never imagined that moving out of the house would play such a big part on my weight. I would eat out all the time; I was never eating healthy but instead just eating quick and convenient. I gained about 40 pounds but with school and work I didn't have the time to workout and tried to change the food I ate but it was just too hard. I finally realized I needed some help and that’s when I found Dr. Chong's Wu-Long Tea™ a girl I worked with actually told me about it. I have only been taking it now for about 4 weeks but have already lost 19 pounds its already made such a difference in my body and my clothes it feels like it was made just for me. Thank you Dr. Chong's Wu-Long Tea™ for helping me lose the weight that school has caused me."
- Katlyn Phillips; Novi, MI