Experts Warn Viral Olive Oil Shots May Cause Weight Gain

WHO:

NY Post - Kourtney Kardashian and Hailey Bieber have promoted taking olive oil shots for purported health benefits.

Fox News - Kourtney Kardashian and Hailey Bieber have promoted the trend; some social media users and celebrities say daily olive oil shots make them feel healthier and less inflamed.

Fox News - Megan Meyer, Ph.D., a science communication consultant based in Durham, North Carolina, discussed the trend and its potential effects.

Fox News - Reality television personality Harry Jowsey said he took olive oil and lemon juice shots every morning for a week and noticed “less puffiness” and “more even skin.”

Fox News - The National Institutes of Health says plant-produced polyphenols can help combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation.

WHAT:

NY Post - Taking shots of olive oil has become popular on social media.

Fox News - Meyer said one or two daily olive oil shots can add several hundred calories to daily consumption and are likely to cause weight gain over time if they create a calorie surplus.

Fox News - Meyer said olive oil shots should be safe for most healthy people, but people with gallbladder issues, chronic reflux, or sensitive stomachs should probably avoid them.

Fox News - Meyer said taking a large amount of fat on an empty stomach may cause upset stomach, acid reflux, bloating, or loose stools.

Fox News - Meyer does not recommend olive oil shots and recommends using olive oil in meals, such as for sautéing, in dressings, or drizzled over soups and sauces.

Fox News - A 2022 observational study published in the *Journal of the American College of Cardiology* found that adults consuming more than half a tablespoon of olive oil per day had a 19% lower risk of death from heart disease.

Fox News - Meyer said olive oil’s heart-health benefits are largely tied to its monounsaturated fat and polyphenols.

WHERE:

Fox News - Meyer is based in Durham, North Carolina.

WHEN:

Fox News - Jowsey said he took olive oil and lemon juice shots every morning for one week.

Fox News - The cited observational study was published in 2022.

WHY:

Fox News - Meyer said health trends become popular because they are novel, go viral, and offer the appeal of quick, convenient fixes; improving diet can be challenging and its effects take time.

Fox News - Meyer said extra-virgin olive oil generally contains more polyphenols than refined, light-tasting olive oil, and polyphenol content varies.

HOW:

Fox News - Researchers found that giving mice olive oil before glucose delayed stomach emptying and limited the initial rise in circulating blood sugar.

(UPDATED November 12, 2026 20:05 UTC)

Olive oil shots are trending online, promoted by Kourtney Kardashian and Hailey Bieber. Experts warn shots can add calories and cause reflux or stomach upset. They recommend using olive oil in meals, where its healthy fats and polyphenols support heart health.