Diet Coke may make you gain weight. Picture: iStockSource:Supplied
 

People who choose diet versions of their favourite soft drink over full-sugar varieties may end up gaining weight, say doctors.
 

The warning comes after researchers from the University of South Australia found that people who consumed low calorie sweeteners (LCS) didn’t reduce their overall sugar intake.
 

The study, published in the journal Current Atherosclerosis Reports, also found consuming the sweetners could be contributing to type 2 diabetes.
 

Professor Peter Clifton, who led the research, said: “There has been a 200 per cent increase in LCS usage among children and a 54 per cent increase among adults in the past 20 years.”
 

While Diet Coke and other artificially sweetened drinks are thought to be better than full-sugar versions, research shows the sweetners in these beverages may contribute to type 2 diabetes. Picture: Instagram / stufffromthesupermarketSource:Instagram
 

His team reviewed previous research and came across a US study of 5158 adults over a seven-year period.
 

It showed that those who consumed large quantities of artificial sweeteners gained more weight than the non-users.
 

Prof Clifton said: “Consumers of artificial sweeteners do not reduce their overall intake of sugar.

“They use both sugar and low-calorie sweeteners and may psychologically feel they can indulge in their favourite foods.
 

“Artificial sweeteners can also change the gut bacteria, which may lead to weight gain and risk of type 2 diabetes.”
 

Low calorie sweeteners are used in place of sucrose, glucose and fructose and have an intense sweet flavour without the calories.


According to study lead, Prof Clifton, those who consume artificial sweeteners don’t necessarily cut down their overall sugar intake. Picture: iStockSource:istock

Artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) are also linked with increased risks of death and cardiovascular disease and strokes and dementia among older people, but it is not clear why.
 

Prof Clifton cited 13 studies that investigated the effects of ASB intake on the risk of type 2 diabetes – all of which found either no link or a positive one.
 

One study found that substituting ASB for sugar-sweetened beverages or fruit juices was associated with a 5 to 7 per cent lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
 

He said: “A better option than low-calorie sweeteners is to stick to a healthy diet, which includes plenty of whole grains, dairy, seafood, legumes, vegetables and fruits and plain water.”
 

Previous studies have also found links between calorie-free drinks such as Diet Coke and weight gain.
 

Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital have found the breakdown product in the drink’s sweetener – aspartame – disrupts the metabolic rate.
 

Dr Richard Hodin, the study’s senior author, said: “Sugar substitutes like aspartame are designed to promote weight loss and decrease the incidence of metabolic syndrome.

source:https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/drinking-diet-coke-may-make-you-more-likely-to-put-weight-on-new-research-shows/news-story/de3ba046e07b20a5f2125e5459518119

*Other reasons why artificially sweetened drinks can be a problem*

Some soft drinks contain artificial sweeteners instead of added sugar. 
 

Artificially sweetened drinks add very little energy (kilojoules) to the diet and therefore do not contribute directly to weight gain. 
 

However, artificially sweetened drinks still maintain the ‘habit’ of drinking sweet drinks and there is some evidence that consumption of all soft drinks, both diet and sugar sweetened, may lead to decreased bone density as people may drink less milk. 
 

Whether sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners these drinks are acidic. 
 

Frequent consumption can contribute to the erosion of tooth enamel, a major factor in tooth decay.  
 

For good oral health, tap water has an advantage over many commercially available drinks as it has the beneficial effects of added fluoride. Tap water is also the best choice of drink for hydration (replacing the fluids you lose). 
 

Source: Better Health Channel