(P19-020-23) Changes in Coffee and Caffeinated Beverage Intake and Long-term Weight Change: An Update on Three Prospective Cohort Studies

Objectives: Whether the association between coffee consumption and weight depends on the addition of sugar, cream or coffee whitener is still unclear. We aimed to study the associations between changes in coffee consumption, caffeine intake and weight changes considering the habit of adding sugar, cream or a non-dairy coffee whitener. Our secondary aim was to assess the relationship between adding sugar to beverages and foods at home in general and weight changes.

Methods: We used three large prospective cohorts – the Nurses’ Health study (1986 - 2010), Nurses’ Health study II (1991 – 2015) and Health Professional Follow-up Study (1991 – 2014). We constructed multivariable linear regression models with robust variance estimators in each cohort to assess the association of changes in coffee habits within each 4-year interval with weight changes during the same period. Results across the three cohorts were pooled using inverse-variance weights.

Results: After adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI) at baseline and changes in lifestyle (diet, smoking, physical activity, sleep and sedentary behavior), each 1 cup per day increment of black caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee was associated with a reduction in 4-year weight gain of -0.10 kg (95 % CI: -0.17 to -0.04 kg) or -0.12 kg (95 % CI: -0.16 to -0.07 kg), respectively. With coffee as the primary source of caffeine in our cohorts, each 100 mg per day increment of caffeine was related to a reduction of weight gain by -0.07 kg (95 % CI: -0.11 to -0.02 kg). Adding cream or non-dairy coffee whitener to black coffee was not significantly linked to weight changes. We found no association between changes in intake of sugar-sweetened coffee and weight change. Adding a teaspoon of sugar to any food or beverage was associated with a 4-year weight gain of +0.10 kg (95 % CI: 0.07 to 0.12). Neither caffeine nor coffee modified the relationship between adding sugar to any food or beverage and weight change.

Conclusions: An increase in intake of black caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee was associated with a reduction in weight gain. Sugar-sweetening of coffee counteracted coffee’s benefit for weight management. Adding cream and coffee whitener was not associated with greater weight gain. No effect modification by caffeine or coffee on the relationship between adding sugar to beverages and weight change was found.

Funding Sources: NIH