Yerba Mate for Weight Management

Research suggests that yerba mate's role in weight management remains uncertain and is not well-established by current evidence. A 2025 meta-analysis pooling 13 randomized controlled trials found no significant effects on BMI or waist circumference in the general study population, though it did identify some blood sugar benefits in people with pre-diabetes based on limited data. A small 2013 crossover study found that a multi-ingredient thermogenic supplement containing yerba mate alongside caffeine and other compounds increased resting energy expenditure and improved subjective energy levels, though the multi-ingredient formula makes it impossible to attribute these effects specifically to yerba mate. A broader 2004 systematic review of over-the-counter weight loss supplements concluded that none of the supplements examined, evaluated under rigorous standards, had sufficient evidence to be recommended for weight loss, underscoring the general gap between popular use and clinical proof. Taken together, the available evidence is limited in both quantity and quality, and any observed effects may be attributable to caffeine or other co-ingredients rather than yerba mate specifically.