Does eating chili peppers increase or decrease risk?

• Chili peppers are often recognized for their slight fat-burning and metabolism-boosting properties.
• However, new research suggests consuming chili peppers more frequently may be associated with a greater risk of obesity.
• Experts propose that the unhealthy dishes in which chili peppers are most often used, not the chili peppers themselves, may contribute to weight gain.

Chili peppers are spicy and flavorful peppers used in many cuisines around the world. They belong to the genus Capsicum, which includes bell peppers, jalapenos, and habaneros.

Research highlights capsaicin, the main bioactive compound in chili peppers, for its promising health benefits, particularly for cardiometabolic health. Evidence suggests it has the potential to help manage obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

However, several large-scale observational studies, including a comprehensive cross-sectional study conducted in rural China, have revealed a significant association between the frequency of spicy food intake and overall obesity.

This raises the question: does consuming chili peppers decrease or increase obesity risk?

To explore this, a study published in Frontiers in Nutrition examined the association between chili pepper intake and obesity risk in Americans.

Similar to other observational studies, the new study found that frequent chili pepper consumption was linked to a higher body mass index (BMI) and obesity risk, especially in females and adults over 60.

Despite inconsistent findings on chili peppers’ role in obesity to date, experts offer potential explanations for the conflicting results.