Diet Soda causing Weight Gain? Science Says Otherwise

A STATEMENT FROM THE CALORIE CONTROL COUNCIL
About Claims that Diet Soda causes Weight Gain:

Low- and no-calorie foods and beverages are a proven tool in helping manage weight. Multiple studies (referenced below) have shown changes in behavior and diet, including regular intake of diet sodas, result in successful weight loss and maintenance of that loss.

“Many Americans face challenges in achieving a healthy lifestyle, which includes a healthy diet with appropriate calorie intake and physical activity. Reduced-calorie products are an important tool in helping consumers improve their diet and lose weight” says Robert Rankin, President of the Calorie Control Council.

Reviews of the evidence by numerous organizations including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics support the benefit of reduced-calorie products. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics position on the use of nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners states, “Use of aspartame and aspartame-sweetened products as part of a comprehensive weight loss or maintenance program by individuals may be associated with greater weight loss and may assist individuals with weight maintenance over time.”

Study References

1. Bellisle F. Intense sweeteners, appetite for the sweet taste, and relationship to weight management. Curr Obes Rep, 2015; 4(1): 106-110.

2. Miller PE, Perez V. Low-calorie sweeteners and body weight and composition: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies. Am J Clin Nutr, 2014; 100(3): 765-777.

3. Peters JC, Wyatt HR, Foster GD, Pan Z, Wojtanowski AC, Vander Veur SS, et al. The effects of water and non-nutritive sweetened beverages on weight loss during a 12-week weight loss treatment program. Obesity, 2014; 22(6): 1415-1421.

4. Piernas C, Tate DF, Wang X, Popkin BM. Does diet-beverage intake affect dietary consumption patterns? Results from the Choose Healthy Options Consciously Everyday (CHOICE) randomized clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr, 2013; 97(3): 604-611.

5. Anderson GH, Foreyt J, Sigman-Grant M, Allison DB. The use of low-calorie sweeteners by adults: impact on weight management. J Nutr, 2012; 142(6): 1163s-1169s.

6. Bellisle F, Drewnowski A, Anderson GH, Westerterp-Plantega M, Martin CK. Sweetness, satiation, and satiety. J Nutr, 2012; 142(6): 1149s-1154s.

7. Drewnowski A, Mennella JA, Johnson SL, Bellisle F. Sweetness and food preference. J Nutr, 2012; 142(6): 1142s-1148s.

8. Fernstrom JD, Munger SD, Sclafani A, de Araujo IE, Roberts A, Molinary S. Mechanisms for sweetness. J Nutr, 2012; 142(6): 1134s-1141s.

9. Foreyt J, Kleinman R, Broen RJ, Lindstrom R. The use of low-calorie sweeteners by children: implications for weight management. J Nutr, 2012; 142(6): 1155s-1162s.

10. Maersk M, Belza A, Stødkilde-Jørgensen H, Ringgaard S, Chabanova E, Thomsen H, et al. Sucrose-sweetened beverages increase fat storage in the liver, muscle, and visceral fat depot: a 6-mo randomized intervention study. Am J Clin Nutr, 2012; 95(2): 283-289.

11. Mattes RD, Popkin BM. Nonnutritive sweetener consumption in humans: effects on appetite and food intake and their putative mechanisms. Am J Clin Nutr, 2009; 89(1): 1-14.