The Effect of Green Tea on Body Fat, Anthropometric Indices and Blood Pressure among Overweight and Obese Women

The health promoting effects of green tea including anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects، decreasing heart attack risk and oxidative stress status has been widely demonstrated during the past decade. The purpose of this study was to determine the possible effects of green tea on the anthropometric indices، systolic and diastolic blood pressure in overweight and obese women. A before-after، randomized clinical trial was conducted during 45 days on 41 overweight and obese women. The randomly selected participants forming a treatment group consumed 3 to 5 cups of green tea (125 cc) daily for 45 days. Demographic information، anthropometric indices including height، weight، body mass index (BMI)، waist hip ratio (WHR)، percent body fat and systolic/diastolic blood pressure were recorded at the beginning and the end of the study. Mean of age، BMI and body fat were 38. 1 ± 1. 7 years، 28. 8 ± 3. 5 Kg/m2 and 35. 8 ± 3. 51 percent، respectively. The mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 84. 8 ± 12. 9 mmHg and 130. 1 ± 20 mmHg، respectively. There was a non-significant reduction in anthropometric indices such as weight، BMI، and body fat percent; and a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (P = 0. 009); however، reduction in diastolic blood pressure was not statistically significant (P = 0. 05). Daily intake of green tea was associated with a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure; however، reduction in anthropometric indices and diastolic blood pressure was not significant.