| Artificial sweeteners have definite advantages in | | | | Weight loss: There are a few studies that have |
| weight management and control of diabetes | | | | found slight weight gain, rather than weight loss in |
| because they permit variety and satisfy cravings | | | | subjects consuming artificially sweetened |
| without the extra calories or the increase in blood | | | | beverages. The most important study was from |
| sugar and insulin that occurs when eating high | | | | 2008 which reported that artificially sweetened |
| sugary foods. Artificial sweeteners (AS) offer the | | | | drinks might produce weight gain, rather than |
| individual the sweetness of sugar without the | | | | weight loss. Conducted by Dr Sharon Fowler and |
| calories providing variety and increasing palatability | | | | colleagues at the University of Texas in San |
| which is so important for successful weight | | | | Antonio, this study has been widely quoted and |
| management. Part 2- They are effective. | | | | misinterpreted. Here is what was reported: |
| They are anywhere from 20 to 7,000 times | | | | 1. Only artificially sweetened beverages were |
| sweeter than sugar. Each gram of refined table | | | | studies, not all the other foods containing artificial |
| sugar contains 4 calories vs. zero calories per | | | | sweeteners. Both groups were part of a Heart |
| gram for artificial sweeteners. In theory, they | | | | study, and were not obese to begin with. The non |
| should be the dream of everyone who needs to | | | | AS users startedwith an average BMI of 26.9, |
| limit their weight, yet that has not worked out | | | | those using AS's started with a higher BMI of |
| that way. Questions about the safety and more | | | | 27.9. The study lasted 8 years and included 5100 |
| recently effectiveness keep coming up. | | | | residents of San Antonio. |
| The Answer is clear: Artificial Sweeteners are | | | | 2. The differences in weight gain between those |
| Safe: | | | | drinking artificially sweetened drinks vs. those that |
| Whether its aspartame, sucralose or Truvia, the | | | | did not was an increase in average BMI of 0.47. ( |
| medical consensus is that they are very safe | | | | A normal BMI is less than 25, borderline between |
| products. This is supported by regulatory agencies | | | | 26 to 29 and obese if 30 or more; an example of |
| around the world, who have evaluated these | | | | a BMI increase of 0.47 is the difference between |
| compounds not once, but multiple times, the best | | | | 200 lbs. and 203 lb. for a 5 ft 10 inch individual or |
| research from academic obesity centers, and the | | | | 150 and 152 for a 5 ft 4) This means that even |
| consensus of expert medical committees of | | | | before the study began the participants were just |
| various scientific organizations. Billions of cans of | | | | about normal, the non-AS drinkers were thinner |
| diet drinks have been consumed since 1982 when | | | | and over the years gained a few pounds. If AS |
| aspartame was approved by the FDA without a | | | | cause obesity, as the title of the article infers, |
| proven instance of cancer, nervous system | | | | then why did they not become obese? They had |
| diseases, or visual problems. Anecdotal claims that | | | | 8 years. Maybe the explanation is that individuals |
| purport to show otherwise have thus far been | | | | that drink AS beverages have a tendency to |
| overwhelmingly rejected by leading food safety | | | | become overweight in the first place and that's |
| authorities as flawed. | | | | why they drink the beverages. |
| Artificial Sweeteners Help Weight Loss | | | | 3. None of the results applied diabetics, or to |
| Once the consumer accepts the safety of | | | | obese people (BMI = 30 or greater). This is very |
| artificial sweeteners, the next question should be | | | | important, since it's obese and diabetics that |
| whether they are effective. There is no doubt | | | | benefit most by AS. |
| the benefit diabetics achieve with these | | | | 4. The authors end their report stating, "Dieting |
| compounds. Making food more palatable certainly | | | | was strongly associated with AS consumption: |
| leads to better adherence to any food restriction | | | | 72% of dieters vs. 41% of non dieters." That is |
| plan-the cornerstone of weight management. Dr | | | | exactly what one would expect, people trying to |
| Barry Popkin from Purdue University reviewed his | | | | lose weight use artificial sweeteners, not normal |
| long term study in participants drinking AS | | | | weight people. |
| beverages and 152 more studies -all showed | | | | To take this data and come to the conclusion |
| weight loss. He writes, "taken together, the | | | | that artificially sweetened beverages cause |
| evidence by us and other suggests that than the | | | | obesity or are not helpful for weight loss is |
| non- nutritive sweeteners are used as substitutes | | | | completely unfounded. |
| for higher yielding energy, they have the potential | | | | Numerous studies from all over the world, for the |
| to aid in weight management." | | | | past 20 years involving overweight and obese |
| Here is a summary of the issues raised by critics | | | | subjects trying to lose weight have shown just |
| that believe that consuming artificial sweeteners | | | | the opposite- weight loss. More bibliography in part |
| results in weight gain: | | | | 3. |
| Artificial Sweeteners do NOT Cause Hunger or | | | | When all of the evidence is taken together, it |
| Increase Sweet Consumption: | | | | appears that artificially sweetened beverages and |
| There is some questionable data that drinking | | | | foods are safe and can act as a substitute for |
| artificially sweetened beverages leads to the | | | | higher calorie sweeteners and thus have a |
| desire for more sweet food i.e. sweet leads to | | | | significant role to play in weight management. |
| more sweet. All though possibly true, this behavior | | | | They make foods more palatable which |
| has marked variability and for most people it is | | | | encourages better compliance with a reduced |
| not very important. It can be minimized when the | | | | food plan. This is confirmed by numerous studies |
| artificially sweetened beverages are consumed | | | | from all over the world over the past 20 years. |
| with food. On the contrary, some research has | | | | Drinking diet sodas will lead to weight gain when |
| found that AS can actually increase the release of | | | | individuals use them as an excuse to eat higher |
| satiety producing hormones. There is no credible | | | | calorie foods. |
| evidence that AS increase appetite or hunger. | | | | Who is doing the talking-That's the important issue |
| There is no proven increase in fat consumption | | | | for those consumers who are still confused, |
| when sugar intake is reduced. | | | | concerned and still in doubt about the scientific |
| Artificial Sweeteners May Cause Over | | | | evidence proving artificial sweeteners are both |
| Compensation in some Individuals: | | | | safe and effective, look at the credentials of the |
| This means that some individuals are influenced to | | | | authors-their degrees and positions that you might |
| eat more food when they are using artificially | | | | be reading and then compare that to the |
| sweetened food and drinks- the result is to cancel | | | | researchers I have reviewed: |
| out the caloric savings. This again is a very | | | | George Blackburn M.D. Harvard Medical School, |
| individual behavior and for some people it may be | | | | Boston |
| very important and needs to be recognized. | | | | Arne Astrup, M.D. Center for Advanced Food |
| Everyone has seen people eating a chocolate | | | | Studies, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural |
| cake and drinking a diet soda. | | | | University, Denmark |
| Artificially Sweetened Drinks may be less Filling: | | | | Adam Drewnowski, PhD, University of Michigan, |
| There is some evidence that drinking sugar | | | | Ann Arbor |
| sweetened beverages leads to feeling fuller for | | | | David Ludwig, M.D, PhD. Harvard University Boston |
| longer periods of time. However, any savings are | | | | Richard Mattes, M.D. Purdue University, West |
| overshadowed by the increase in net calories. | | | | Lafayette, In |
| Artificial sweeteners may lead to Weight Gain, not | | | | Barry Popkin, M.D. |