(FREE) UPSC Current Affairs 2024 PDF

(The Gist of Science Reporter) Could a Cup of Coffee Trim Down Body Fat?

[SEPTEMBER-2019]

Obesity is one of the common problems giving rise to other health issues like diabetes, etc but a cup of coffee can be helpful.
The brown fat can burn a huge amount of energy to generate heat, and many studies in humans and animals have suggested that increasing the amount of healthy brown fat might help weight management and reduce symptoms of diabetes and obesity. Initially, it was thought that brown fat is found only in infants and other mammals and with age, it gradually disappears. But in recent years, it has been observed in studies that it can also be found in adults which in turn opens the door to other related studies. Individuals having lower Body Index Mass (BMI) which is a measure of body fat depending on one's height and weight, tends to have a higher amount of brown fat.
Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) calorie-burning activity is associated with a protein called mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein l (UCP1) which can be stimulated by cold temperature and diet. Consumption of caffeine is linked to increased energy expenditure and weight loss. Hence researchers of Nottingham examined the effects of caffeine on UCP1 in BAT cells in vivo and in vitro. They also observed the effects of drinking coffee on BAT in healthy volunteers.