Diet drinks work as well as water for weight loss, major trial finds
A two-year randomized controlled trial found that diet soft drinks containing non-nutritive sweeteners are as effective as water for weight loss and maintenance. The study challenges recent WHO guidance that advised against using such sweeteners for weight control.
Why it matters
These findings provide significant clinical evidence that may influence public health policy and consumer choices regarding sugar substitutes.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have completed what they describe as the longest and most comprehensive randomized controlled trial to date examining non-nutritive sweetened (NNS) soft drinks.
Non-nutritive sweeteners are low-calorie or calorie-free sugar substitutes commonly used in foods and beverages. The 104-week study found that NNS beverages, including diet soft drinks, performed similarly to water when it came to long-term weight management.
Professor Jo Harrold, Dean of Psychology at the University of Liverpool, led the peer-reviewed research with Professor Jason Halford, Professor, Biological Psychology & Health Behaviours at the University of Leeds (formerly of the University of Liverpool). The study was funded by the American Beverage Association. According to the researchers, the study team operated independently from the funder and retained full control over the analysis and reporting of the results.
Diet Drinks Compared With Water Over Two Years
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