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Some SmartShape subscribers seem to enjoy a caffeine hit. Around 40% of participants in our recent online survey drink back tea or coffee at least a few times a week.

But why consume caffeine?

Liking the taste was the number one reason (75%). Other reasons are listed below in descending order:

Out of habit (40%)
To increase alertness (28%)
To keep awake (23%)
Because I'm addicted to caffeine (17%)
To help me concentrate (10%)
To help burn more body fat (10%)
To boost my fitness training (8%)
Because someone else makes it (6%)
To boost sports performance (3%)

Interestingly, only 10% of survey participants used caffeine to burn more body fat. This is perhaps because the idea that caffeine helps mobilize fats from adipose tissue has mixed support from research. It may work in some people, but not others.

Any limits?

Around two thirds (64%) placed limits on the amount of caffeine they consume. The most common cap on caffeine was two cups a day of either coffee or tea. Self-selected limits ranged from as little as one cup of coffee a week up to six a day.

So how well did they go sticking to the limits? Sixty-two percent and thirty-seven percent said they always or mostly stuck to their limit respectively, so from what we heard in the survey, limits were well adhered to.

Why avoid caffeine?

The reasons for giving caffeine a miss included; concern about health, insomnia, dehydration and it gives me a headache.

It seems that although people do need to stay awake and alert, some would prefer not to achieve this using caffeine. Here are two comments from the survey:

“I try to avoid caffeine whenever possible and only drink it when I need to stay awake for long periods of time”

“I feel that it might be habit-forming (if not fully addictive) and I don't want to rely on it to stay awake/alert.”

But, then another view:

“If I stopped drinking coffee altogether, I think it's the ritual I'd miss more than the taste or the effects of caffeine.”

Any risks?

It's generally believed that moderate consumption (no more than 4 or 5 average-strength cups of coffee a day) is not harmful for most people, and may even have some benefits. However, people vary in their sensitivity to caffeine some will always be better off keeping to a tight limit or avoiding caffeine.

Next month I'll answer many of the questions you asked in the survey: How is caffeine addictive? Does it really increase metabolism? Will it really help you burn fat? And more!

Who responded to the survey?

105 people of which 89% were female

A big thank you to all who completed the survey!

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