Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on December 6, 2016 and is being reprinted.
The appeal of artificial sweeteners, with their zero calories and sweet taste, is strong, leading to their routine use by up to 141.18 million Americans. However, concerns have always existed about the consumption of these hyper-sweet synthetic compounds, such as aspartame, which is 200 times sweeter than sugar.
One of the most concerning aspects, especially for those consuming artificially sweetened products in hopes of losing weight, is that these sweeteners may actually promote weight gain. Research published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine suggested that despite the perception of artificial sweeteners as “health food,” they may not aid in weight reduction.
Despite their reputation as weight-loss aids, it has been known for years that artificial sweeteners may have the opposite effect. A study conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers revealed that aspartame, for example, could actually prevent weight loss by blocking the activity of a gut enzyme called alkaline phosphatase.
Further studies on mice showed that aspartame-laced water led to weight gain and symptoms of metabolic syndrome, while mice not fed the artificial sweetener did not experience these issues. The inhibition of alkaline phosphatase by aspartame was suggested as a reason for this counterproductive effect.
The hindrances of artificial sweeteners to weight loss have been documented since the 1980s, with numerous studies indicating a positive correlation between artificial sweetener use and weight gain. Despite this, artificially sweetened beverages are still marketed as weight-loss aids, with diet soda consumption being a key culprit in increasing waist circumference and metabolic syndrome disorders.
Consuming aspartame-sweetened diet soda daily has been linked to a 67% increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and a 36% increased risk of metabolic syndrome. Evidence suggests that artificial sweeteners may induce metabolic derangements, leading to excessive weight gain, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
The soda industry has pledged to reduce the number of calories consumed through beverages by 20% over a decade, with a focus on promoting artificially sweetened diet drinks. However, the slow start to this initiative and the declining consumption of low- and no-calorie sodas indicate a growing wariness among Americans towards artificial sweeteners.
As the soda industry continues to push diet beverages as a healthy alternative, it is essential to consider the potential harmful effects of artificial sweeteners like aspartame. Studies have shown that regular consumption of these sugar substitutes may have adverse effects on glucose and energy homeostasis, ultimately leading to metabolic derangements and associated health risks. Aquellas personas que bebían dos o más refrescos de dieta al día tenían un aumento del 500% en el tamaño de la cintura.
La investigación publicada en el Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics también reveló que las personas que beben bebidas de dieta terminan compensando las calorías “ahorradas” comiendo más alimentos altos en azúcar, sodio y grasas no saludables.
Los adultos obesos tenían la mayor ingesta diaria adicional de calorías de alimentos no saludables asociados con las bebidas de dieta. El investigador Ruopeng An, Ph.D., un ex profesor de kinesiología y salud comunitaria en la Universidad de Illinois, señaló: “Puede ser que las personas que consumen bebidas de dieta se sientan justificadas para comer más, por lo que optan por un muffin o una bolsa de papas fritas… O tal vez, para sentirse satisfechos, se sientan obligados a comer más de estos alimentos altos en calorías”.
Para obtener más información sobre los efectos perjudiciales de los refrescos de dieta, incluyendo en relación con el aspartame y el aumento de peso, echa un vistazo a nuestra infografía a continuación.
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