How might chili peppers and spicy foods affect weight?
Capsaicin, present in chili peppers, has been widely studied for its potential anti-obesity effectsTrusted Source.
Many studies suggest it aids in weight reduction, conflicting with the results of the present study and several other large-scale observational studies linking higher chili consumption to increased obesity risk.
Medical News Today spoke with Thomas M. Holland, MD, MS, a physician-scientist at the RUSH Institute for Healthy Aging and instructor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition at Rush University, who was not involved in the study. He provided insight into how chili peppers and other spicy foods might impact the risk of obesity.
He noted that chili peppers, as a standalone food, are highly nutritious, containing flavonoids and carotenoids, vitamins C, A, B6, and iron.
Holland further explained:
“The nutrients, flavonoids, and other compounds like capsaicin found in chili peppers can aid in weight reduction. Capsaicin can increase lipid oxidation, improve brown fat activation (leading to more energy being burned), enhance satiety, and improve gut microbiota diversity.”
Kiran Campbell, a registered dietitian nutritionist and medical nutrition advisor at Dietitian Insights, who was also not involved in the study, told MNT that chili peppers have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, potentially aiding in preventing obesity-related inflammation.
“Since obesity and chronic low-grade inflammationTrusted Source may be linked, this suggests that the addition of chili peppers into a healthy diet may help improve or aid in preventing obesity,” she said.
According to Holland, both direct and indirect factors affected the results of the present study, with indirect factors having a greater impact.
“Specifically,” he said, “chili peppers are often consumed with high-fat, high-calorie foods, meaning that more frequent chili pepper consumption is tied to more frequent high-calorie food consumption.”
He, put simply, that this leads to weight gain if more calories are consumed than burned.
Holland also highlighted that the study ignored diet quality despite available data and used a single question about chili pepper intake—without considering type, spiciness, or serving size—making the results hard to interpret.
These limitations represent a confounding bias, which “if not properly controlled, can obscure the true relationship between the variables being studied.”
“The quality of the diet, or the foods that chili peppers are consumed with, will significantly impact the outcome,” he affirmed.
Should we avoid chili peppers to lower obesity risk?
The study authors suggest that “controlling chili intake frequency could potentially contribute to improved weight management in the general population.”
Holland cautioned, “It is appropriate to study individual foods, food groups, and nutrients. However, it is crucial to have all the necessary information to draw accurate conclusions.”
Rather than avoiding chili peppers, experts recommend consuming chili peppers alone or within healthier recipes instead of the calorie-dense or high-fat dishes in which chili is most often used.
“There is no need to eliminate chili peppers from your diet in the fear of gaining weight. Instead, look more at HOW you are using chili peppers. Alone, chili peppers are a great low-calorie vegetable that can add flavor and spice to foods and may aid in weight loss if used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise plan.”
— Kiran Campbell, RDN
Holland agreed, stating, “The ultimate implication here is to be mindful of what you consume with your foods.”
“Both what we consume and how it is prepared are equally important,” he concluded.
Campbell urged more long-term human studies, considering multiple confounders and examining specific categories and culinary uses of chili pepper.
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