Ginger for weight and metabolism in overweight people
What it found
In 14 randomised trials in overweight or obese people, taking ginger was linked to lower body weight, waist-to-hip ratio, hip ratio, fasting glucose and insulin resistance, and higher HDL cholesterol.
It made no clear difference to insulin, BMI, triglycerides, total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol.
What they found
Studies in people
Body weight and shape
Ginger supplementation significantly decreased body weight, waist-to-hip ratio and hip ratio. No clear effect was found on body mass index.
Blood sugar control
Ginger significantly lowered fasting glucose and insulin resistance. It did not significantly change insulin levels.
Blood fats
Ginger significantly increased HDL cholesterol. It did not significantly affect triglycerides, total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol.
What the authors conclude
“Overall, the current meta-analysis demonstrated that ginger intake reduced BW, WHR, HR, fasting glucose and HOMA-IR, and increased HDL-cholesterol, but did not affect insulin, BMI, triglycerides, total- and LDL-cholesterol levels.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that ginger intake reduced body weight, waist-to-hip ratio, hip ratio, fasting glucose and insulin resistance, and increased HDL cholesterol.
- They state that ginger did not affect insulin, BMI, triglycerides, total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol levels.
How it was done
The authors wanted to sum up the effect of taking ginger on weight loss, blood sugar control and blood fats in people who are overweight or obese.
They pooled 14 randomised controlled trials with a total of 473 overweight or obese subjects. They searched medical databases up to November 2017 and assessed study quality.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The review pools results from different trials, so it cannot show how ginger works or whether it causes these changes.
- It cannot show whether the effects last beyond the length of the included trials.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran; University of Alberta, Canada; Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
The paper
- Title
- The effects of ginger intake on weight loss and metabolic profiles among overweight and obese subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Type
- Systematic review and meta-analysisThe authors follow a set, published method to find every relevant study, then combine the numbers from them into one result.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Maharlouei N, Tabrizi R, Lankarani KB, et al (2019). The effects of ginger intake on weight loss and metabolic profiles among overweight and obese subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. doi:10.1080/10408398.2018.1427044PubMed 29393665DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error