It's grim news for coffee addicts who like to keep in shape. Scientists from Western Australia have found that drinking too much of the brew can slow the metabolism and lead to weight gain.

Researchers from the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research and the University of Western Australia found that drinking more than six cups of coffee a day - even when decaffeinated - could lead to the abnormal retention of fat within cells.

Coffee. Credit:Eddie Jim

It was not the result the researchers were expecting. Previous studies have suggested that coffee lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The research team studied a compound found in coffee, known as chlorogenic acid, which has been associated with reducing insulin sensitivity, blood pressure and body fat accumulation.