Dark chocolate is a staple in many people's diets due to its reputation as a healthy food. But what exactly are the effects of cocoa and dark chocolate on our body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC)? To answer this question, scientists conducted a comprehensive search of 35 randomized clinical trials and analyzed the results using a meta-analysis and fractional polynomial modeling.
The meta-analysis(1) found that there was no significant effect on body weight, BMI, and WC from the supplementation of cocoa or dark chocolate. However, when the scientists looked more closely at the results, they found that consuming at least 30g of dark chocolate per day for 4 to 8 weeks resulted in a reduction of both body weight and BMI. Furthermore, the consumption of dark chocolate resulted in a reduction in waist circumference in a non-linear fashion.
So what does this mean for those who love dark chocolate? While dark chocolate may not have a significant impact on our body weight and BMI, consuming it in moderate amounts (at least 30g per day) for a short period of time (4-8 weeks) can result in some reduction of these measures. So go ahead and enjoy some delicious dark chocolate!
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