Scientists discover coffee could be the key to losing weight AND exercising more

Drinking coffee really could hold the key to combating obesity, new research implies. Caffeine, the beverage's main stimulant, helps to burn off calories by boosting the release of oxytocin. This hormone affects both appetite and metabolism - allowing people to battle their bulging waistline, scientists suggest.

In trials on overweight mice who were given high amounts of caffeine, the drug was found to help them slim down.

It made them eat less and inspired them to be much more active on a wheel running machine, Chinese researchers found.