Why Does Caffeine in my Coffee Make me Gain Weight?

Caffeine in coffee can cause people to gain weight in a few different ways. It can have a negative effect on stress levels, which can make people want to eat more. Because caffeine can keep people awake, it has also been linked with insulin resistance, which leads to storage of fat in the body.

Caffeine and Stress

• Caffeine has been proven to increase the stress hormone cortisol. The higher levels of cortisol make your body crave more fuel for energy, and you can become more hungry. Because your body is "stressed," it will crave foods high in sugars, carbohydrates, and fats.

Effects on Metabolism

• A little bit of caffeine can stimulate your metabolism, which is a positive if you want to lose weight. However, because coffee (and other caffeinated drinks such as tea) is a diuretic, it encourages a loss of water weight, not fat.

Loss of Sleep

• One of caffeine's most well-known side effects--keeping you awake--can also have negative effects on your weight loss goals. Lack of sleep can lead to higher stress levels and will also effect your insulin levels. Insulin balances your metabolism and can cause you to store fat, not burn it.

Insulin Resistance

• Insulin resistance simply means that your body is not using insulin to effectively process food and boost your metabolism. It occurs when you are overstressed and under-rested. The most common effect is that your body will store fat instead of using it for fuel. Because caffeine raises stress levels and can keep you awake, it has been linked to insulin resistance.

Kicking the Habit

• Caffeine causes stress levels to rise, and when stress levels increase, most people are prone to overeating. In a high-stress state, your body will hang on to the fats in your system and shed only water, which will lead to stronger food cravings. Caffeine is a hard habit to break, but if you are trying to lose weight and not having much success, cutting down on your caffeine intake may do the trick.