Artificial Sweeteners: Lifesaver or Weight Loss Saboteur?

Artificial sweeteners became hugely popular around the same time frame that obesity became an epidemic. Could Saccharin, first introduced to us in the 1950s, be to blame or is it actually one of the best things that happened to dieters?

Unfortunately, that question remains unanswered as both sides duke it out. Studies are being conducted, but the results often contradict one another.

To look at this issue, you need to examine the historical timeline. Saccharin was the first widely used artificial sweetener. It has been in use since 1879 and was extensively used in both world wars because it was cheaper than sugar. Marketed as Sweet and Low, saccharin had a monopoly on low-calorie products until 1983, when Aspartame was added. This was followed in 1999, with the addition of Sucralose.

The production of low-calorie foods and beverages soared as the public became aware of these products. What we didn’t realize though, is that while the artificial sweeteners tricked us into thinking that we satisfied our sweet tooth, they may have also confused our internal controls concerning calorie intake and appetite.

An often-quoted study at Purdue University, which was conducted on rats, showed that the rats that ate foods containing artificial sweeteners consumed more food and gained more weight than those who ate foods containing glucose, a natural sugar found in fruit.

Another disturbing study, conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center, looked into the effect of diet sodas on weight loss. This study showed that people who drank as little as one soda each day, diet or regular, had a 50% increased risk for metabolic syndrome over a four-year period.

Metabolic syndrome is a word used to characterize the risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Some of the more common ones are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and abdominal obesity. One statement that was made, as a result of the study, was that drinking even one diet soda a day increases the risk of obesity by as much as 41%.

Not everyone agrees with the findings of these two studies. The Calorie Control Council, an international association representing the low-calorie and reduced-fat food and beverage industry, is quick to point out what they see as flawed studies. The Purdue study, they report, was conducted using a small sample of only ten rats per group. They further point out that studies conducted on rats, which by the way like the taste of saccharin, do not necessarily apply to humans. The study doesn’t take into account other factors contributing to weight loss such as larger portion sizes and lack of physical activity.

In regards to the second study, the Calorie Control Council reports that there were no definitive conclusions or reasons given as to why diet soda would increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. “The researchers did not control for weight gain, which is related to the development of metabolic syndrome, nor did they exclude overweight individuals from the study.” The Council goes on to report several major studies that showed artificial sweeteners to be beneficial to weight loss, and stated, “Leading health groups agree that low-calorie sweeteners and the products that contain them can help people manage their weight as part of an overall healthy diet.”

So, there you have it! Either artificial sweeteners are sabotaging your weight loss efforts or they’re helping to keep you satisfied in place of higher caloric alternatives. Can we blame them for our overindulgence or do we have to look inward and accept the blame for leading inactive lives that revolve around food?

Related Articles

• Do Diet Sodas Cause Weight Gain?
• Diet Drinks and Sodas Cause Weight Gain
• Alternative Sweeteners for Sugar Free Desserts
• Eating Organic and Whole Foods Will Help You Lose Weight
• Can Diet Coke Help You Lose Weight?