Artificial Sweeteners Cause Weight Gain

Here’s some advice that got my attention today. If trying to lose weight thenskip the diet pop and go straight for the sugar!
According to a study of two groups of rats, researchers at Purdue University found those fed yogurt sweetened with saccharin, a zero-calorie sweetener, ate more and gained more weight than those that ate the same food containing sugar.
The results, published today in the American Psychological Association’s Behavioral Neuroscience journal, are the latest to link artificial sweeteners and obesity.
It appears as though sweeteners confuse the body’s natural attempt to keep track of calories based on the sweetness of the food being consumed. It’s still early though and more research is to be done.
“I think at this point the issue is just that these kinds of products are not necessarily going to just produce weight loss. This suggests that it may actually produce the opposite effect,” said Susan Swithers, an associate professor in the department of psychological sciences at Purdue University and one of the study’s authors.
Researchers used saccharin in this new study, but Dr. Swithers said she believes the results could also apply to other artificial sweeteners common in many foods. Saccharin is banned in Canada because of concerns it may be linked to health problems, but officials are reviewing those restrictions in light of new scientific evidence showing it may not be harmful to humans.
According to research published by the Framingham Heart Study, they found that people who drank one or more cans of pop a day, regardless of whether it was diet, were 48 per cent more likely to suffer from obesity and other health problems.
In response to the new study, the Calorie Control Council, a U.S.-based industry association that represents companies that sell artificial sweeteners, said the research oversimplifies the complex issues that contribute to obesity among humans and several studies have demonstrated that artificial sweeteners can help with weight loss.
“Although they are not magic bullets, low-calorie sweeteners in beverages and foods can help people reduce their calorie [energy] intakes,” the council said in a statement.
It’s always confusing when these studies come out to gauge the impact on your particular diet. I always advice to stay the course and consult your physician if you have any questions or concerns.