COPENHAGEN: A new study presents promising findings for people seeking to manage their weight by substituting sugar with low- or no-calorie sweeteners (S&SE). The research, known as the Sweet Project, indicates that incorporating sweeteners into the diet after weight loss could facilitate continued weight management without raising the risk of type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
Led by Anne Raben, PhD, a professor at the University of Copenhagen’s nutrition department, the study examined the effects of sweetener consumption on weight maintenance in adults and children who were overweight or obese. Over the course of a year-long trial involving nearly 350 adult participants and approximately 40 children, researchers observed significant benefits associated with the use of sweeteners.
During the study, participants were divided into two groups: one group followed a nutritious diet with limited sugar intake, while the other group replaced sugary foods and drinks with products containing sweeteners. After ten months, adults in the sweetener-consuming group experienced weight loss, improved diet satisfaction, enhanced mood, and reduced cravings compared to their counterparts who did not consume sweeteners.
The findings challenge previous assumptions regarding the safety and efficacy of sweeteners for weight management. Despite concerns raised by a 2023 World Health Organization (WHO) systematic review, which suggested a potential link between artificial sweeteners and chronic conditions, the Sweet Project results indicate a more favorable outcome.
Jason Halford, PhD, co-author of the study and head of the University of Leeds’s School of Psychology, emphasized that long-term studies increasingly refute the notion that sweetener consumption leads to weight gain. The study’s analysis also did not reveal an increased risk of diabetes or heart disease in either group of participants.
However, the study acknowledged some limitations, including a small number of child participants and a lack of differentiation between individual types of sweeteners. Additionally, the generalizability of the findings may be limited due to the predominance of female participants with higher education levels.
Despite ongoing debate surrounding the safety of sweeteners, experts suggest that the benefits of using these substitutes may outweigh potential risks, particularly in the context of weight management. While concerns persist regarding the impact of sweeteners on metabolic health, the consensus among experts interviewed is that the benefits of weight loss associated with sweetener consumption outweigh potential drawbacks.
