Sugar Substitutes Linked to Weight Gain

Abstract

ALTHOUGH LOW-CALORIE SWEETeners are a dietary staple for many individuals trying to maintain or lose weight, an emerging body of evidence suggests these substances offer little help to dieters and may even help promote weight gain. A 2007 review found that laboratory, epidemiological, and clinical studies examining effects of low-calorie sweeteners presented an unclear picture of their usefulness (Bellisle F and Drewnowski A. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007; 61[6]:691-700). Because the scientific findings are mixed, there is currently no official recommendation about using artificial sweeteners as a tool for weight control. However, some studies have suggested that low-calorie sweeteners may actually increase appetite for sweet foods, promote overeating, and lead to weight gain. Recent findings lend further support to this theory, demonstrating that artificial sweeteners blunt the body’s energy expenditure mechanisms and activate taste pathways differently than sucrose—findings that might prompt dieters to rethink their weight-loss strategies.