Share

This common weight-loss food might actually be giving you a belly

accreditation

The “diet” choice might not actually help your diet goals at all: Artificial, zero-kilojoule sweeteners might not help you lose weight – and they may actually contribute to packing on the kilos, according to a meta-analysis published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Read more: 6 things that happen when you stop eating sugar

The researchers crunched the numbers from 37 studies involving more than 406 000 participdants – seven were randomised control trials, the “gold standard” of research where one group received the treatment and the other a placebo, and 30 were cohort studies, where people are followed for a set amount of time to gauge their risk of disease.

They concluded that artificial sweeteners had no significant effect on body mass index (BMI) in the randomised control trials. In the observational studies, they determined that consuming artificial sweeteners actually led to slight increases in BMI, weight and waist circumference. It was also linked to higher levels of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart events and metabolic syndrome.

Read more: The science behind your sugar cravings – and how to beat them

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says that artificial sweeteners are safe, and can be used to regulate kilojoule intake to help manage weight, the study says. But this research – as well as previous experiments – questions that advice. It’s possible that the sweeteners can affect the way your body metabolises sugar, mess with the good bacteria in your gut and can even influence your appetite.

One reason? Artificial sweeteners taste much sweeter than regular sugar – up to 1 000 times as much, in fact. When you take in that sweet taste, your body thinks high-energy food is to follow, Dr Yanina Pepino, a researcher at the Washington University School of Medicine explained to us in our investigation of artificial sweeteners on weight control. So it triggers a hormonal response to prepare for it.

Read more: Get all the nutrients your body needs by stocking your cupboard with these five foods

When you don’t get that kilojoule surge, your body may feel less satisfied – triggering our appetites and possibly prompting us to search for more substantial food. Still, there are a lot of uncertainties about artificial sweeteners and weight gain, and some studies continue to show conflicting results with it. So while more research does need to be done, it doesn’t hurt to work on reducing the added stuff from your diet – whether zero-kilojoule artificial sweeteners or regular sugar.

Start by gradually reducing the amount of sweetener you use to give your taste buds time to adjust, says Kelley Bradshaw, a dietitian in the Center for Endocrinology, Nutrition and Weight Management at Boston Medical Center. The process could take anywhere from a few months to a year.

This article was originally published on www.mh.co.za

Image credit: iStock

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE