How many times do you hit the coffee shop?
Commuters who regularly buy that much needed cup of coffee could be putting their health at risk, warns The Register of Exercise Professionals.
REPs, the only register to recognise and regulate exercise professionals who meet the UK’s national standards, reports that commuters who have a daily Caffé Latte with full fat milk could find themselves putting on whopping 9 ½ lbs of fat in just one year.
Jean Ann Marnoch, Registrar at REPs, who has over 30 years experience in the fitness industry, comments: “Everyone loves a coffee moment to wake them up before work, but it is necessary to bear in mind the effect that these daily drinks can have on your body. There’s 128 kcals in a Caffé Latte and that all adds up. Add a triple chocolate muffin as a quick treat on the train and you’ve just added a whopping 530kcal.”
Jean Ann advises that small changes can make a big difference. Swapping to a skinny latte which contains just 71 kcals will reduce pounds, whereas a black coffee is even more saintly at just 8 kcals.
Jean Ann continues: “There’s no need to completely give up your caffeine fix, but counteract the calories with regular exercise. Simply getting off the tube a station earlier and walking the rest of the way or cycling instead of driving can have significant effect on your health.”
The findings come amid fears obesity amongst Brits is reaching epidemic proportions. With 54 per cent of people visiting coffee shops regularly, and nearly 30 per cent going more than once a week, coffee is fast becoming an unnoticed way of piling on the pounds.
Jean Ann finishes: “With Costa looking to open another 600 shops by 2016, and Starbucks planning to take its total past 1,000, it’s not just the market that’s set to get bigger – it’s the public!”