Could drinking diet soda derail your diet?

Researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that overweight and obese adults who drink diet sodas consume more calories from food, than obese or overweight adults who drink regular soda or other sugary beverages.

"Although overweight and obese adults who drink diet soda eat a number of total calories comparable to heavier adults who drink sugary beverages, they consume significantly more calories from solid food at both meals and snacks," said Sara Bleich, PhD, associate professor with the Bloomberg School's Department of Health Policy and Management and lead author of the paper.

A diet soda drinker has a higher BMI

Using data from the 1999-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a population-based survey, researchers looked at national patterns in adult diet beverage consumption and caloric intake by body-weight status.

Consumption of diet soda has increased considerably in the past few decades from 3 per cent in 1965 to 20 per cent today. Individuals who drink diet soda typically have a higher BMI (Body Mass Index) and consume more snack foods than those who drink sugary beverages.

Artificial sweeteners are to blame

Earlier research may explain why the investigators found higher consumption of solid food among heavy adults who drink diet beverages.

Artificial sweeteners, which are present in high doses in diet soda, are associated with a greater activation of reward centres in the brain, thus altering the reward a person experiences from sweet tastes.

In other words, among people who drink diet soda, the brain's sweet sensors may no longer provide a reliable gauge of energy consumption because the artificial sweetener disrupts appetite control. As a result, consumption of diet drinks may result in increased food intake overall.

So, if you want to lose weight, pass on the diet soda and rather drink water – it’s naturally good for you and it’s free!

Recommended reading: How much sugar is in that soft drink?

1. Prev:Hit the snooze button to avoid eating extra calories
2. Next:Study debunks a popular diet