Cocoa as weight-loss accelerator: Study

[WillBrink]

Another win for Cocoa. Recent study finds it acts as a weight-loss accelerator. Not a surprise really, considering the large number of active compounds in Cocoa. should be very useful in conjunction with a fat loss diet and exercise plan:

Chocolate with high Cocoa content as a weight-loss accelerator
Johannes Bohannon, Diana Koch, Peter Homm, Alexander Driehaus

Abstract

Background: Although the focus of scientific studies on the beneficial properties of chocolate with a high cocoa content has increased in recent years, studies determining its importance for weight regulation, in particular within the context of a controlled dietary measure, have rarely been conducted.

Methodology: In a study consisting of several weeks, we divided men and women between the ages of 19-67 into three groups. One group was instructed to keep a low-carb diet and to consume an additional daily serving of 42 grams of chocolate with 81% cocoa content (chocolate group). Another group was instructed to follow the same low-carb diet as the chocolate group, but without the chocolate intervention (low-carb group). In addition, we asked a third group to eat at their own discretion, with unrestricted choice of food. At the beginning of the study, all participants received extensive medical advice and were thoroughly briefed on their respective diet. At the beginning and the end of the study, each participant gave a blood sample. Their weight, BMI, and waist-to-hip ratio were determined and noted. In addition to that, we evaluated the Giessen Subjective Complaints List. During the study, participants were encouraged to weigh themselves on a daily basis, assess the quality of their sleep as well as their mental state, and to use urine test strips.

Result: Subjects of the chocolate intervention group experienced the easiest and most successful weight loss. Even though the measurable effect of this diet occurred with a delay, the weight reduction of this group exceeded the results of the low-carb group by 10% after only three weeks (p = 0.04). While the weight cycling effect already occurred after a few weeks in the low-carb group, with resulting weight gain in the last fifth of the observation period, the chocolate group experienced a steady increase in weight loss. This is confirmed by the evaluation of the ketone reduction. Initially, ketone reduction was much lower in the chocolate group than in the low-carb peer group, but after a few weeks, the situation changed. The low-carb group had a lower ketone reduction than in the previous period, they reduced 145 mg/dl less ketones, whereas the chocolate group had an average reduction of an additional 145mg/dl. Effects were similarly favorable concerning cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and LDL cholesterol levels of the chocolate group. Moreover, the subjects of the chocolate group found a significant improvement in their well-being (physically and mentally). The controlled improvement compared to the results of the low-carb group was highly significant (p <0.001).

Conclusion: Consumption of chocolate with a high cocoa content can significantly increase the success of weight-loss diets. The weightloss effect of this diet occurs with a certain delay. Long-term weight loss, however, seems to occur easier and more successfully by adding chocolate. The effect of the chocolate, the so-called "weight loss turbo," seems to go hand in hand with personal well-being, which was significantly higher than in the control groups.

http://imed.pub/ojs/index.php/iam/article/view/1087

[Msistine]

Finally have the evidence I needed that Chocolate Covered Banana Whey Smooth does indeed burn fat.

[usersignup2]

study invalid. no control for calories at all.

[Posterchild18]

If anything i would be interested in consuming cocoa in high doses simply for the large naturally occurring amounts of -(-)epicatchetin. Plus you know the caffeine and dopamine release XD

Side Note(Cocoa contains caffeine....caffeine=fat burner...wait a second...)

[AMeyer9]

So... why wouldn't you want raw cacao powder instead? More nutrients.

[BlueRev]

I'd think raw as Amey stated would be best.
Why are calories not counted on any of the individuals?

[Posterchild18]

So... why wouldn't you want raw cacao powder instead? More nutrients.

Truth in this.

[kissdadookie]

study invalid. no control for calories at all.

How does that make it invalid? That makes the findings even more impressive if they didn't control for intake.

[AMeyer9]

How does that make it invalid? That makes the findings even more impressive if they didn't control for intake.

If you say so.

[TMac26]

How does that make it invalid? That makes the findings even more impressive if they didn't control for intake.

I think he is referring to a control group in the first place. Who is to say "eating at your own discretion" meant they starved themselves?

[kissdadookie]

I think he is referring to a control group in the first place. Who is to say "eating at your own discretion" meant they starved themselves?

If it was randomized at least, who is to say that "eating at your own discretion" meant that the chocolate group starved themselves?

So if these were results seen from an uncontrolled diet, it is then not that much of a stretch that if the diet was controlled, we might see an even more pronounced benefit.

Maybe it was due to some of the constituents of cocoa. Maybe eating chocolate has some sort of craving satiation effect. Doesn't really matter because both groups were essentially given the same instructions, I'm assuming the groups were randomly formed, and the only real variable was chocolate vs no chocolate.

[TMac26]

If it was randomized at least, who is to say that "eating at your own discretion" meant that the chocolate group starved themselves?

So if these were results seen from an uncontrolled diet, it is then not that much of a stretch that if the diet was controlled, we might see an even more pronounced benefit.

My point exactly. Free reign is not a way to go about doing a study. They might very well have, we don't know. We all know cocoa has weight loss properties (Theobromine), but to do such a poorly constructed study was pointless.

[kissdadookie]

My point exactly. Free reign is not a way to go about doing a study. They might very well have, we don't know. We all know cocoa has weight loss properties (Theobromine), but to do such a poorly constructed study was pointless.

I see it as a step by step approach. This study lends credit to a hypothesis which can then be further studied.

[usersignup2]

How does that make it invalid? That makes the findings even more impressive if they didn't control for intake.

not sure if srs.

if you can't control the simplest and most important variable in weight loss/gain, how can you quantify your results? or do you not believe caloric intake/expenditure is an important variable?

[kissdadookie]

not sure if srs.

if you can't control the simplest and most important variable in weight loss/gain, how can you quantify your results? or do you not believe caloric intake/expenditure is an important variable?

I'm not sure if your serious because you obviously are unable to grasp what happened in the study.

If both group essentially were given the same eating guidelines with the only variable being one group also consumes a set amount of chocolate, how does this make the results invalid? We have a general rough estimation of the benefits the chocolate group exhibited.

Think about it. Only shortfall of this study is as TMac mentions, we don't know how much further we can go with the benefits of consuming chocolate/cocoa on a diet.

To put it into even simpler terms, we are already seeing a significant benefit for adding the chocolate/cocoa in the study and this was with a relatively loose dietary guideline, if the nutrition was strictly monitored, it's very likely that we would end up seeing even better results.

[usersignup2]

I'm not sure if your serious because you obviously are unable to grasp what happened in the study.

If both group essentially were given the same eating guidelines with the only variable being one group also consumes a set amount of chocolate, how does this make the results invalid? We have a general rough estimation of the benefits the chocolate group exhibited.

Think about it. Only shortfall of this study is as TMac mentions, we don't know how much further we can go with the benefits of consuming chocolate/cocoa on a diet.

To put it into even simpler terms, we are already seeing a significant benefit for adding the chocolate/cocoa in the study and this was with a relatively loose dietary guideline, if the nutrition was strictly monitored, it's very likely that we would end up seeing even better results.

if the parameters of the study were exactly the same, i.e. no control for calories but instead of consuming cocoa:

one group drank Coke
the other group drank Pepsi

result:
Coke group lost weight

would you still feel the same way about the study?
simple yes or no will suffice

[OT2000]

Finally have the evidence I needed that Chocolate Covered Banana Whey Smooth does indeed burn fat.

Toasting to dat fat loss side effect

[kissdadookie]

if the parameters of the study were exactly the same, i.e. no control for calories but instead of consuming cocoa:

one group listened to classical music
the other group listened to heavy metal

result:
heavy metal group lost weight

would you still feel the same way about the study?
simple yes or no will suffice

Yes. Because there is a variable there (difference in music selection). So in that example, we know that the music has an impact, further research would be needed to find out how it is impacting the results (looking for the method in which it does so).

Remember, RANDOMIZED group selection here. This normalizes the groups across the board.

[powercage]

This study isnt very convincing


Even their suspected mechanism isnt really unique to cocoa.

[kissdadookie]

This study isnt very convincing


Even there suspected mechanism isnt really unique to cocoa.

Agreed.

[WillBrink]

This study isnt very convincing


Even their suspected mechanism isnt really unique to cocoa.

Could it be a stronger study? For sure. Is it compelling and in line with known and unknown effects of the many bio active compounds in cocoa? Yes.

The correct conclusion here is: compelling but more research is needed to confirm and parse out the mechanisms, etc.

I'd say the value and benefits of the many compounds in cocoa only just starting to be elucidated and appreciated.

[VO2Maxima]

The fact that it is so poorly controlled might actually make it more useful for regular people who don't know how to count calories. A weaker study, yes, and less useful to us as well as supplement companies who care more about ingredients that work than trendy ingredients that sell, but if it causes people to eat less for some reason, then that might actually be helpful for the average person who has no idea how to diet effectively.

That said, when the Oprah and Dr. Oz crowd get wind of the idea that cocoa is a weight loss accelerator...oh boy.

If anything i would be interested in consuming cocoa in high doses simply for the large naturally occurring amounts of -(-)epicatchetin.

I'd also like to see that study. You need a crapload of cocoa to get a useful dose of (-)epi though, and as of now, (-)epi supplements are stupid expensive.

[supersystem3]

Hey brahs, this entire study was intentionally misleading and borderline fraudulent, it was an experiment done to see how easy it is for junk science to make its way into the mainstream press

http://io9.com/i-fooled-millions-int...ght-1707251800

He even links to this thread at the end of the article, and congratulates you brahs on being skeptical of the study. Stay safe supplement forum brahs.

[FormulaLT1poweR]

Hey brahs, this entire study was intentionally misleading and borderline fraudulent, it was an experiment done to see how easy it is for junk science to make its way into the mainstream press

http://io9.com/i-fooled-millions-int...ght-1707251800

He even links to this thread at the end of the article, and congratulates you brahs on being skeptical of the study. Stay safe supplement forum brahs.

Nice, haha.

I seen a 2+ month bump, and thought "here we go again".

Also saved me from shoveling spoonfuls of cocoa into my mouth.

[TMac26]

That is straight epic.


Skeptical eyes win again.

[spacetrig]

in on skeptical hippo thread

[usersignup2]

Hey brahs, this entire study was intentionally misleading and borderline fraudulent, it was an experiment done to see how easy it is for junk science to make its way into the mainstream press

http://io9.com/i-fooled-millions-int...ght-1707251800

He even links to this thread at the end of the article, and congratulates you brahs on being skeptical of the study. Stay safe supplement forum brahs.

thanks for the update.


exactly as I said and from the article and original author of the 'study', although he misquoted me.


just goes to show that high rep =/= knowledgeable ^^^

[AMeyer9]

Wow BR, you're famous.

just goes to show that high rep =/= knowledgeable ^^^

Definitely not always the case.

[WillBrink]

Hey brahs, this entire study was intentionally misleading and borderline fraudulent, it was an experiment done to see how easy it is for junk science to make its way into the mainstream press

http://io9.com/i-fooled-millions-int...ght-1707251800

He even links to this thread at the end of the article, and congratulates you brahs on being skeptical of the study. Stay safe supplement forum brahs.

Junk science gets traction and makes it into the mainstream media more often than not. The "sting" was done to drive traffic to the authors page and make a name for himself I suppose, which is fine. Not the first time someone has exposed that junk science is common and often quoted, nor will it be the last. I have been exposing junk science in the supp/nutri/health area for decades now.

As there's a plethora of solid studies showing various benefits of cocoa ingestion, and many of the beneficial compounds identified, I thought this one was a fun headline for a study to post.
Back to eating my cocoa....

[kissdadookie]

Genius. I am thoroughly amused.