Does Celsius Actually Burn Fat? The Thermogenic Claim, Explained

Does Celsius Actually Burn Fat? The Thermogenic Claim, Explained

Does Celsius actually burn fat? Celsius's MetaPlus blend combines caffeine with green tea extract containing EGCG, both of which have real, published effects on energy expenditure and fat oxidation. But the effect size in the underlying research is small, most of Celsius's own cited studies were company-funded, and there is no evidence that drinking Celsius produces meaningful fat loss without a calorie deficit. The honest answer: Celsius contains ingredients with real thermogenic properties. Those properties do not add up to a fat-loss product.

Key Takeaways

• The thermogenic effect is real but tiny. Green tea catechins plus caffeine raise 24-hour energy expenditure by roughly 4 to 5%, which translates to about 80 extra calories per day in controlled settings.
• Celsius's "six university studies" were company-funded. Celsius Inc. provided unrestricted research grants for the University of Oklahoma studies it cites on its marketing page.
• No study shows Celsius causes fat loss on its own. Acute increases in metabolic rate and lipolysis markers are not the same as losing body fat over weeks or months.
• Celsius agreed to a $7.8 million false-advertising settlement in December 2022, though the claim at issue was about preservatives, not thermogenesis.

What Celsius Claims on Its Own Website

Celsius's "The Science" page states that its products have "thermogenic properties" that are "proven to increase metabolism," causing your body "to burn more calories and body fat than you normally would with exercise alone." The page references six published university studies, primarily conducted at the University of Oklahoma and published in journals including the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (JISSN) and the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

That language is doing a lot of work. "Burn more calories and body fat than you normally would with exercise alone" is technically describing thermogenesis, but it reads like a weight-loss promise to most consumers scanning the can. The distinction matters.

What Is Actually in the MetaPlus Blend

Current Celsius cans carry a standard Nutrition Facts panel with a single ingredient list and no proprietary-blend line, so there is no published blend total to quote. The ingredients that matter here are taurine, guarana seed extract, green tea leaf extract, caffeine, glucuronolactone, and ginger root extract, and Celsius publishes no milligram amount for any of them except caffeine. A standard 12-oz Celsius Original contains 200 mg of caffeine, 10 calories, and 0 g sugar.

You know the can has 200 mg of caffeine and some EGCG. You do not know how much EGCG.

Of those six ingredients, only two have meaningful thermogenesis research behind them: caffeine and EGCG (from the green tea extract). Taurine, glucuronolactone, ginger, and guarana (which is itself mostly caffeine) have either weak or no published evidence for raising metabolic rate at supplement doses.

The Real Numbers Behind Caffeine and EGCG Thermogenesis

Two studies form the backbone of the EGCG-plus-caffeine thermogenesis claim.

Dulloo et al. 1999 (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, PMID 10584049): Ten healthy men received green tea extract three times daily, each dose containing 50 mg caffeine and 90 mg EGCG (total daily: 150 mg caffeine + 270 mg EGCG). The green tea group burned roughly 4% more energy over 24 hours compared to placebo, an increase greater than caffeine alone could explain. This is a real finding, replicated in later work. It is also a small study (n=10) and a small effect.

Hursel et al. 2011 (Obesity Reviews, PMID 21366839): A meta-analysis of short-term respiration-chamber studies found catechin-caffeine mixtures increased 24-hour fat oxidation and energy expenditure by roughly 5%. Fat oxidation increased only with catechin-caffeine mixtures, not with caffeine alone. The dose-response was approximately 0.4 to 0.5 kJ per mg of catechins.

In practical terms, a 4 to 5% bump in 24-hour energy expenditure translates to roughly 80 to 100 extra calories per day for a typical adult. That is less than a single banana. Over a month without any other change, that might theoretically account for about a third of a pound of fat. The effect is real. The effect is small.

The Company-Funded-Study Problem

Celsius's marketing page cites "six published university studies." What it does not emphasize: Celsius Inc. provided funding for the University of Oklahoma research through unrestricted research grants. The researchers themselves disclosed this in their JISSN publications.

Company-funded research is not automatically wrong. These studies were published in peer-reviewed journals, and the researchers stated they independently collected and analyzed results. But company funding introduces a structural bias that has been well-documented in nutrition science. Studies funded by food and beverage companies are more likely to produce favorable results than independently funded studies. Knowing the funder does not invalidate the findings, but it should calibrate how much weight you give them.

The studies themselves measured acute metabolic markers (resting energy expenditure, free fatty acid levels) over hours, not fat loss over weeks. Showing that a drink temporarily raises your metabolic rate is not the same as showing it makes you leaner. Those are different claims, and Celsius's marketing blurs the line between them.

Celsius's 2022 False-Advertising Settlement

In December 2022, Celsius Holdings agreed to a $7.8 million class-action settlement over claims that it falsely advertised its products as containing "no preservatives" despite using citric acid. Celsius maintained it did not admit wrongdoing.

This settlement was about preservative claims, not thermogenic claims. But it is relevant context: Celsius has a documented history of making label claims that did not survive legal scrutiny. That track record is worth keeping in mind when reading "proven to increase metabolism" on the same brand's marketing page.

Caffeine and EGCG Without the Branding

Here is what matters if you are evaluating Celsius specifically for its thermogenic properties: the active thermogenic ingredients are caffeine and EGCG. Neither is proprietary to Celsius.

A cup of coffee delivers 80 to 100 mg of caffeine. A cup of green tea provides roughly 50 to 100 mg of EGCG. Together, they replicate the core thermogenic mechanism that Celsius's MetaPlus blend relies on, without the proprietary branding, the undisclosed EGCG dose, or the approximately $2-plus price per can.

If your goal is a caffeine-driven metabolic bump, you can get it from any caffeine source. The thermogenic delta between Celsius and a cup of black coffee is the EGCG, and you do not know how much EGCG is in a can of Celsius because Celsius does not publish the amount.

For a deeper look at the full Celsius ingredient breakdown, including what the other MetaPlus components do (and do not do), that analysis covers the safety and efficacy picture beyond thermogenesis. And if you are comparing across energy drink alternatives, the deciding factor should be what you actually need from the drink, not what the label promises about fat.

Conclusion

Celsius contains caffeine and EGCG. Those ingredients have published, replicated evidence for small, temporary increases in energy expenditure and fat oxidation. That much is true, and it is fair to say Celsius has a thermogenic effect.

What is not supported by the evidence: the implication that drinking Celsius will produce visible, meaningful fat loss. A 4 to 5% bump in metabolic rate, sustained over hours, does not overcome a calorie surplus. It does not replace exercise. It does not substitute for the boring, unglamorous work of eating fewer calories than you burn. No drink does.

If a can of Celsius helps you feel more energized before a workout and you consequently train harder, that is a real benefit. Just know the benefit is the caffeine, not a metabolic shortcut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Celsius actually burn fat?

Celsius contains caffeine and EGCG, both of which temporarily increase fat oxidation and energy expenditure. The effect is real but small: roughly 80 to 100 extra calories per day in controlled studies. This does not translate to meaningful fat loss without a calorie deficit. Celsius is a caffeinated drink with a modest thermogenic effect, not a fat-burning product.

Is Celsius good for weight loss?

No single drink produces weight loss. Celsius's 200 mg of caffeine may mildly suppress appetite and raise metabolic rate for a few hours, but the magnitude is too small to matter without dietary and exercise changes. If you are in a calorie deficit, Celsius will not hurt. If you are not, it will not help.

Does Celsius work better than coffee for fat burning?

The main thermogenic advantage Celsius claims over coffee is its EGCG from green tea extract. The Dulloo 1999 study showed EGCG plus caffeine raised energy expenditure more than caffeine alone. But Celsius does not disclose its EGCG dose, making a direct comparison impossible. Black coffee with a green tea supplement replicates the same mechanism.

Are Celsius's thermogenic claims scientifically proven?

The underlying ingredient science (caffeine plus EGCG thermogenesis) is supported by peer-reviewed research. Celsius's own cited studies are also published in peer-reviewed journals but were funded by Celsius Inc. The claims are directionally supported, with caveats about effect size, study funding, and the gap between acute metabolic markers and actual fat loss.

What is the MetaPlus blend in Celsius?

MetaPlus is the name Celsius gives its ingredient mix: taurine, guarana seed extract, green tea leaf extract, caffeine anhydrous, glucuronolactone, and ginger root extract. Celsius publishes no milligram amount for any of them except caffeine, and current cans carry a plain Nutrition Facts panel with no blend total on it.

How many extra calories does Celsius burn?

Based on the published literature on caffeine and EGCG thermogenesis, a reasonable estimate is 80 to 100 extra calories over 24 hours. Some Celsius-funded studies reported similar magnitudes over shorter measurement windows. This is a temporary metabolic effect, not cumulative fat loss.

Did Celsius get sued for false advertising?

Yes. In December 2022, Celsius agreed to a $7.8 million class-action settlement over claims it falsely labeled products as containing "no preservatives" despite including citric acid. The settlement was about preservative labeling, not thermogenic claims, but it reflects how carefully consumers should read Celsius's marketing language.

Is the EGCG in Celsius enough to have a thermogenic effect?

Unknown. The foundational Dulloo 1999 study used 90 mg EGCG with 50 mg caffeine, administered three times daily (270 mg EGCG total). The amount of green tea extract per can is not disclosed. Celsius publishes no milligram figure for it. Without knowing the EGCG dose, you cannot confirm whether Celsius delivers the amount used in the research it implicitly relies on.

If You Want Caffeine, Not a Thermogenic Promise

This article is about Celsius's fat-burning claims. Roon is not a thermogenic product, does not contain EGCG or green tea extract, and makes no fat-loss claims. It is a different tool for a different purpose.

What Roon does share with Celsius is caffeine, though at a lower dose delivered as a zero-sugar, zero-calorie sublingual pouch rather than a 12-oz can. If you have read all of the above and concluded that the thermogenic angle is mostly marketing on top of caffeine's real but modest metabolic effects, the next question is what you actually want from your caffeine. Roon pairs its caffeine with L-theanine, methylliberine (Dynamine), and theacrine (TeaCrine), designed for a 6 to 8 hour sustained focus window rather than a metabolic-rate claim. Tins start at as little as $0.61 per pouch.

Roon is not a diet aid. It will not burn fat, and neither will anything else in a pouch or a can. But if your actual goal is steady, sustained energy without the sugar, the crash, or the thermogenic marketing, it is worth a look.

Related from Roon

• Is Celsius Bad for You? Full Ingredient Breakdown
• EGCG Benefits: What Green Tea Catechins Actually Do
• Does Caffeine Boost Metabolism? The Real Numbers
• Energy Drink Alternatives Without the Sugar Crash

Written by Roon Team