January 21, 2025

expert reaction to a brief research report suggesting fizzy water can aid in weight loss by boosting glucose uptake and metabolism

A study published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health looks at carbonated water and weight loss. 

Prof Keith Frayn, Emeritus Professor of Human Metabolism, Emeritus Fellow at Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, said:

“This is a short theoretical report with no experimental data to support a claim that fizzy drinks may aid weight loss.  I am sceptical of the claimed mechanism.  Even if it were possible to show that the carbon dioxide in fizzy drinks increases the use of glucose by red blood cells, that will not necessarily lead to weight loss, however minimal.  Red blood cells cannot fully ‘burn’ the glucose, and it will be recycled by the liver.  If fizzy drinks were to be shown to lead to weight loss, it would much more likely be through effects on feelings of fullness.  In the meantime, however, sugar-sweetened fizzy drinks are recognised as a source of excess calories and likely to do just the opposite.”

Can carbonated water support weight loss?’ by Takahashi was published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health at 23:30 UK time on Tuesday 21^st January.

DOI: 10.1136/bmjnph-2024-001108

Declared interests:

Prof Keith Frayn  “I have no commercial interests related to this topic. I am the author of books on metabolism including ‘A Calorie is a Calorie’, Piatkus, Jan 2025”