Artificial Sweetners Tied to Weight Gain

[cherribom1]

Found this on aol:

Artificial Sweeteners Tied to Weight Gain


AOL
Posted: 2008-02-11 11:07:34
(Feb. 11) - If you're watching your weight, those no-calorie sweeteners could be doing more harm than good.

A Purdue University study found that artificial sweeteners might actually foster weight gain by confusing the body in a way that makes it harder to burn calories.

In the study, one group of rats were fed yogurt sweetened with glucose, a simple sugar with the same calories as table sugar. Another group received yogurt with saccharin. The saccharin group went on to consume more calories, gain more weight and put on more body fat.

Other artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame K could have similar effects, the study said.

The findings come on the heels of a separate study that linked diet soda consumption to an increased likelihood of metabolic syndrome -- a combination of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes that include abdominal obesity, high cholesterol and blood glucose levels, and high blood pressure.

When humans prepare to eat, their metabolism revs up and body temperature rises. The Purdue study found that the rats used to the saccharin had a smaller rise in body temperature after eating a sweet, high-calorie meal because their bodies were expecting fewer calories. Study authors Susan Swithers and Terry Davidson said they think this response both led to overeating and made it harder to burn off sweet-tasting calories.

The research might explain why other studies about the effects of artificial sweeteners on weight have largely been inconclusive, Swithers said. It might also explain in part why obesity has risen in parallel with use of such sweeteners.

People can still count calories to regulate intake and body weight, Swithers said, although she acknowledged that it requires more conscious effort than consuming inherently low-calorie foods.

The findings were published the February issue of Behavioral Neuroscience, which is published by the American Psychological Association.


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[mystic]

If they studied me, they'd have to reverse those findings. I consume 160-200 oz of liquid daily and every ounce of that is Splenda-sweetened drink mix like Lipton's White Teas. I absolutely hate plain water so it's either that or dehydration for me.

I'm averaging about 3.5 pounds lost a week, no stalls and no cravings. I do a significant amount of exercise however which has been proven to suppress appetite and cravings. I might be beating the effect with that alone.

(MWF 45 minutes free weights training, TTHS 90 minutes cardio)

[canIdoIT]

i appreciate the post. i drink 12 glasses of water a day, 4 glasses of coffee sweetened with splenda and then about 2 cans of diet coke. I've lost 18 pounds in 18 days... but if i start to stall or something, i will try cutting out the sweets for 2 weeks to see if i make a difference. today on oprah, dr. OZ says that if you cut out soda for 2 weeks, you'll lose a significant amount of weight. he said he does not like DIET soda, but that a whole nother episode.. you might be on to something. thanks for sharing

[brandywine1241]

As Gary Taubs said, just because 2 things happen at the same time doesn't prove they are related. If you read more details about the metabolic symdrome study, the researchers admitted they don't know if people got ms because they drank diet soda or started drinking diet soda because they started gaining weight. To me, this just reinforces Dr. A's belief that everyone is different and you need to follow the rungs of OWL to find your own personal triggers and stallers.

A cynical person could also see this as an attempt to shift the blame from high fructose corn syrup.

[Hudson]

To me there is no doubt that diet drinks are better than sugar sodas in regards to weight loss. Replace 48 oz a day of Coke with diet Coke and you most likely will lose weight. But, I also think that if you replace the 48 oz a day of diet Coke with water you most likely will lose weight. That has been my experience.

Diet drinks do mess something up. Not like sugar. But on just water I have huge control. Drink the diet drinks and I lose a little control. I'm not exactly hungry more. Kind of craving/uneasyness is the best way to describe it. If I need to buckle down and get serious on my weight, cook every meal, drink nothing but water, and nothing but fresh food.

[cherribom1]

From my own personal experience, I found whenever I drink diet sunkist orange soda lately it acts as an appetite suppressant. Maybe its the carbonation but I don't get that with other diet sodas. Weird!

[bust1er]

From my own experience, I have found that when I drink diet soda, Splenda or otherwise, I get hungrier than just driniking water. I like the carbonation, etc, so I do have a diet soda once in awhile. I think my body gets the sweet taste from the sweetener and when the calories don't materialize to match the taste my appetite kicks in for the carbs to satisfy that craving. Since I realize the effect this has on my appetite I try to limit my soda intake. I have read some of the information on the effects of soft drinks. I still say, if you are going to drink soda, at least use the diet ones. I really don't think we need the extra 100 calories per serving for the corn syrup variety.
Oh, by the way, I didn't see anyone talk about the damage to the esophagus that is caused by serious cola drinking. Just one more reason to drink water, tea, etc.

[mystic]

...not to mention the calcium that the chemicals in the carbonation strip from your bones :-/ I was a sodaholic and wasn't even trying to quit, but I just stopped wanting it one day and have also formed an aversion to it. I still have half a case of Vanilla Coke Zero in my frig that's going on two months old LOL. I'll take the wins anywhere I can get them

[canIdoIT]

i take back what i previously posted...

I actually think this sweetener thing is messing with my weight loss... i upped my dosage of splenda... and i keep going from 160 lbs - 163... i think i'm going to cut out the diet coke and splenda and see what happens-
thank you a lot for the post. a real eye opener to the error of my ways.