Artificial Sweeteners: Lifesaver or Weight Loss Saboteur?

Is it a coincidence that the obesity epidemic exploded in the same time period that saw a huge increase in the use of artificial sweeteners? Was the invention of Saccharin in the 1950s a great gift to dieters or was it a nightmare of epic proportions?

That question remains the topic of much debate. Contradictory research findings make it difficult for us to choose sides.

The production of artificial sweeteners follows an interesting timeline. Used in both world wars because it was cheaper than sugar, Saccharin has been around since 1879. It was first marketed as Sweet and Low and pretty much had a monopoly on the business until 1983, when Aspartame became popular. Sucralose was added in 1999.

When it came to the production of low-calorie foods and beverages, the public couldn't get enough of these products. While artificial sweeteners are meant to trick the taste buds in to thinking you have satisfied your sweet tooth, some research is now indicating that the sweeteners actually confuse our systems when it comes to caloric intake and appetite control.

One study causing concern was conducted at Purdue University. The study results indicated that rats fed artificial sweeteners actually ate more food and gained more weight than those who ate foods without this substance.

Another study that gives one pause was conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Over a four-year period, participants who drank even one soda, diet or regular, showed a 50% increased risk of metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a word used to characterize the risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Some of the more common ones are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and abdominal obesity. One statement that was made, as a result of the study, was that drinking even one diet soda a day increases the risk of obesity by as much as 41%.

The Calorie Control Council, an international association representing the low-calorie and reduced-fat food and beverage industry, is one of the organizations that find these studies flawed. They point out that tests on rats may not apply to humans, and further fault the size of the group sampled. In addition, it was noted that Saccharin was often used as a reward for rats, which would possibly skew the results. Finally, they believe that larger portion sizes and inactivity were omitted as possible causes for weight gain.

The second study received criticism as well from the Calorie Control Council. "Leading health groups agree that low-calorie sweeteners and the products that contain them can help people manage their weight as part of an overall healthy diet, " they reported after pointing out several important studies that showed artificial sweeteners to be very beneficial to weight loss programs. Their criticism included the fact that no definitive conclusions were provided to show why artificial sweeteners would increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. "The researchers did not control for weight gain, which is related to the development of metabolic syndrome, nor did they exclude overweight individuals from the study."

So, are artificial sweeteners the hidden saboteurs of our weight loss efforts? Can we blame them for the obesity epidemic or will be have to accept the blame ourselves for leading sedentary lives that revolve around food? You're going to have to decide...

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Gail M. Davis offers additional facts on artificial sweeteners along with delicious recipes and other issues concerning weight loss on her website, Easy Weight Loss Tips.

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