Chili pepper and weight loss in people
What it found
In people, eating chili pepper helped with weight loss, in studies lasting from a single meal up to 12 weeks.
The main targets are fat metabolism, energy use and heat production.
What they found
Studies in people
Weight loss in people
Human studies using many different doses of chili concluded that it helps with weight loss.
Fat and energy
The main targets of chili are fat metabolism, energy expenditure and thermogenesis.
Insulin control
Weight loss from chili is also the result of better insulin control, which supports weight management.
Other conditions
Better insulin control has positive effects for treating diseases like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders.
Animal and lab studies
How capsaicin works
Capsaicin, the active substance in chili, activates TRPV1 receptors, raising calcium levels inside cells and triggering the sympathetic nervous system.
Brown fat
Apart from TRPV1, chili directly reduces energy expenditure by activating brown adipose tissue.
What the authors conclude
“Studies in humans, using a wide range of doses of chili intake (varying from a single meal to a continuous uptake for up to 12 weeks), concluded that it facilitates weight loss.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that chili contributes to improving the parameters that help weight management.
- They say that eating chili can help speed up weight loss through dietary changes.
How it was done
Chili has both culinary and medical importance, and the authors wanted to summarise how it helps with weight management.
They reviewed human studies that used a wide range of chili doses, from a single meal to continuous intake for up to 12 weeks.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The studies used many different doses of chili, so it is not clear which amount works best.
- The review does not say how long any weight loss lasted after people stopped eating chili.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Qatar Foundation-Education City, Qatar; Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia; University of Oviedo, Spain
The paper
- Title
- Chili pepper as a body weight-loss food
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Varghese S, Kubatka P, Rodrigo L, et al (2017). Chili pepper as a body weight-loss food. International journal of food sciences and nutrition. doi:10.1080/09637486.2016.1258044PubMed 27899046DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error