‘Diet’ drinks no better for healthy weight than full sugar competitors, study suggests

A study conducted by Imperial College London has suggested that sugar-free and ‘diet’ drinks do not promote a healthy weight, despite being perceived as the healthier option.

The research, carried out in partnership with the University of Sao Paulo and the Federal University of Pelotas, argued that sugar-free versions of drinks may be no better for weight loss or preventing weight gain and may also be detrimental to the environment.

It said that there is no solid evidence to support claims that artificially-sweetened beverages or ASBs are any better for health or prevent obesity and related diseases such as type 2 diabetes.

The study raised concern that ASBs might trigger compensatory food intake by stimulating sweet taste receptors. It added that this, together with the consumers’ awareness of the low-calorie content of ASBs, may result in overconsumption of other high sugar foods.

The research maintained that while there is no direct evidence for a role of ASBs in weight gain, there is still no evidence that ASBs aid weight loss or prevent weight gain compared with the full sugar versions.

Professor Christopher Millett, senior investigator from Imperial’s School of Public Health, explained: “A common perception, which may be influenced by industry marketing, is that because ‘diet’ drinks have no sugar, they must be healthier and aid weight loss when used as a substitute for full sugar versions. However we found no solid evidence to support this.”

Professor Carlos Monteiro, co-author from the University of Sao Paulo, commented: “Taxes and regulation on SBS and not ASBs will ultimately promote the consumption of diet drinks rather than plain water - the desirable source of hydration for everyone.”

The authors added: “Far from helping to solve the global obesity crisis, ASBs may be contributing to the problem and should not be promoted as part of a healthy diet.”