Sweet news about those chocolate cravings: People who eat moderate amounts regularly are thinner than those who eat chocolate less often.
The results show people who eat chocolate frequently have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who consume the treat less regularly, the researchers say. Body mass index is a ratio of weight to height and is considered an indicator of body fatness.
The link was found despite the fact that frequent chocolate eaters tended to consume more calories overall, and did not make up for this with additional exercise. The findings suggest something in chocolate may make the calories you eat less likely to be deposited as fat, said Dr. Beatrice Golomb, associate professor in the department of medicine at the University of California, San Diego. "It's really like all of your calories count a little bit less," Golomb said.
But don't go raid the chocolate aisle just yet. The researchers only found an association, not a direct cause-effect link. A more detailed study that measures people's chocolate consumption, weight and health in better detail, is needed before researchers will know whether eating chocolate is really causing the slimness, experts say.
Past research has found that dark chocolate can be beneficial for the heart, says physician Suzanne Steinbaum, director of women's health and heart disease at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. One study of more than 100,000 people found that those who ate dark chocolate regularly reduced their relative risk of heart disease by a third. Golomb's study did not specify the type of chocolate. Neither study received funding from chocolate makers.
Cocoa is rich in antioxidants called flavenoids, which help fight inflammation, lower blood pressure and improve overall vascular function.
The antioxidants also affect metabolism and improve insulin sensitivity, Golomb says. Insulin resistance contributes to hypertension and obesity. "The chocolate provided better metabolism for all calories, not just the chocolate calories."
At a time when 66% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, the results need to be regarded with some caution, experts acknowledge.
"Before you start to eat a chocolate bar a day to keep the doctor away, remember a chocolate bar can contain over 200 calories, which mostly come from saturated fats and sugar," says Nancy Copperman, a registered dietitian and director of public health initiatives at the North Shore-LIJ Health System in Great Neck, N.Y.
She advises limiting chocolate to a 1-oz. portion of dark chocolate a day, or adding cocoa powder to your food or coffee just once a day.
