Short Science, December 30, 2012

One of the key compounds in green tea is Epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, a potent antioxidant, which supporters say reduces fat gain and enhances fat-burning. But it is not found enough in a typical cup of green tea to have much effect, according to a report in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The report analysed a dozen randomised controlled trials, each lasting at least three months, and found that regularly drinking green tea had no meaningful effect on weight loss in overweight adults. The researchers took blood samples and did extensive testing, all of which indicated that the green tea extract did not improve fat oxidation. NYT

A study found that body mass index, a calculation involving the ratio of height to weight, works at least as well as other body measurements, and better than some, to predict health problems. Researchers said BMI and body fat percentage were the best predictors of raised blood pressure, while waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio were good predictors of elevated fasting glucose and reduced HDL cholesterol, otherwise known as "good cholesterol". Body fat percentage was a better marker for "bad cholesterol". NYT