Effectiveness of Green tea on Weight Reduction in Obese Thais

Abstract

Background: The increasing incidence of obesity is a recognized medical problem world wide including Thailand. Obesity raises the risk for developing diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Green tea, containing caffeine and catechin polyphenols, has effects on decreasing body weight, in Caucasian, possibly through stimulation of energy expenditure and fat oxidation.

Perpose: To investigate the effects of green tea on weight reduction in obese Thais.

Study design: Randomized control trial

Subject: 60 obese subjects(BMI > 25  kg/m²)

Method: Subjects were randomized and divided into green tea  and placebo group. Duration of treatment is 12 weeks. Body weight, BMI, body composition, resting energy expenditure (REE), substrate oxidation weremeasure  at baseline in 4, 8 and 12 weeks. All data of two groups at the same week were compared and analyzed by using Student’s t test..

Results: Comparing between two groups, differences of  weight loss were 2.70, 5.10 and 3.73  kg in 4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively. At 8^th week body weight loss was significantly different (P<0.05), difference of resting energy expenditure was 43.80 kcal/day (P<0.05), difference of RQ was 0.02 (P<0.05) and no significantly difference of food intake and physical activity.

Conclusions: Green tea can  reduce body weight in obese Thai subjects significantly at 8^th week by increasing resting energy expenditure and fat oxidation.

Keywords : green tea, effectiveness, weight reduction