Coffee/Caffiene and Fat Storage/Loss - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

A friend of mine says he was told by two different personal trainers at Bally's that drinking coffee causes your body to absorb more fat or somehow blocks fat from being burned.

I'm not sure if he misunderstood the trainers or if they misunderstood caffiene's role in weight loss.

Can any of our supplement experts (HI JOE!) give some input? I always thought caffiene was a good diuertic which would lead to a lower number on the scale (but not necessarily more fat loss).

Thanks,

Dave

[linkster]

Caffeine breaks down fat, freeing fatty acids which are immediately burned. Conversion of fat to energy is about 30 percent more efficient when caffeine is consumed prior to exercise.

Or so thats what this website http://www.fitwise.com/Benefits_Caffeine.asp says.

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

Hey Dave
I’ve never heard that coffee causes one to store more fat. In fact I would think it would be just the opposite. In my book Nutritional Supplements, what works and Why, I reviewed the evidence for caffeine and how it has a mild fat burning effect. Caffeine can also help boost exercise performance in some people.
I think either the guy misunderstood the trainers or they have their facts wrong. If that’s what they are saying, I’d be interested in hearing how coffee does this.
Happy New Year!
Joe