Weight Loss & Black Tea

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Black tea typically contains caffeine, which is widely used for its fatigue-alleviating effects. In terms of weight loss, black tea can be helpful in that it provides you with a drink option containing almost no fat or calories. However, there are risks associated with consumption of caffeinated beverages. You should consult your doctor for medical advice before implementing any dietary or lifestyle changes associated with weight loss.
Caffeine

Writing for the Mayo Clinic website, registered dietitian Katherine Zeratsky indicates that the caffeine content of black tea may have a small effect on weight loss. Although research regarding caffeine's effect on weight loss is inconclusive, some experts believe that the caffeine in tea can help you lose weight in two ways. Firstly, caffeine may act as a short-term appetite suppressant, reducing your desire to eat or overeat. Secondly, caffeine can provide a temporary boost to your metabolism, making you burn energy from your food faster. However, neither of these effects from caffeine is proven to aid long-term weight loss.
Diuretic

Black tea, like any caffeinated drink, has a diuretic action on your body. This means that it stimulates more frequent urination, thereby increasing the amount of water you excrete. In turn, this may cause your body weight to decrease on a temporary basis. However, losing water from your body is not the same as losing fat, and weight lost through water excretion is likely to return when you rehydrate yourself. Using diuretics to lose weight carries health risks associated with being dehydrated.
Nutritional Value

If you drink your black tea without added sweeteners or creamer, this drink is fat-free and virtually calorie-free, according to the USDA standard nutrient database. If you are dieting for weight loss, drinking tea may be helpful simply in that this is a drink which fills your stomach without providing any significant caloric or fat value. If you were to substitute black tea for high-calorie drinks such as sugary sodas and sweetened coffee drinks, your overall daily calorie intake would decrease significantly.
Considerations

Over-consumption of caffeine carries several risks. Caffeine is a stimulant, and may cause insomnia, anxiety and nervousness if you drink too much. Some people -- particularly those with certain neurological or cardiovascular conditions -- may be sensitive to caffeine, experiencing negative side effects after as little as one cup of tea. The Mayo Clinic recommends 200 to 300 mg of caffeine daily as a good moderate intake level, and recommends limiting your total caffeine intake to no more than 500 mg per day.