"Drinking Zero-Calorie Beverages Won't Stop Weight Loss"… Surprising Results After Two Years of Study

Study of Obese Adults by University of Liverpool and University of Leeds

"Weight Loss Effects Identical to Water Group"

A new study has found that overweight or obese adults experienced similar levels of weight loss from drinking sugar-free beverages during a diet as they did from drinking water.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool and the University of Leeds in the UK tracked 493 adults aged 18 to 65 who were overweight or obese, dividing them into two groups for a two-year observation period. One group (246 people) was instructed to drink water, while the other group (247 people) was told to drink at least two 330ml servings per day of sugar-free beverages sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners. Non-nutritive sweeteners provide sweetness instead of sugar but contain little or no calories. The beverages provided in this study primarily included aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose.

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The group drinking water was prohibited from adding sweeteners to tea or coffee. The non-nutritive sweetener group could choose from 20 types of drinks, including diet cola, sugar-free carbonated drinks, fruit-flavored beverages, and flavored waters. This group was also free to drink water as they wished. All participants received guidance from professional nutritionists and exercised for 60 minutes per day, six days a week.

After two years, both groups showed noticeable reductions in weight. The water group lost an average of 3.8 kg, while the sugar-free beverage group lost an average of 4.8 kg. Waist circumference decreased by about 5 cm in both groups. In addition, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of hip circumference or body composition. The researchers concluded, "The difference in weight loss between the two groups was not statistically significant," adding, "In terms of long-term weight management, drinking sugar-free beverages was as effective for weight loss as drinking water."

In particular, contrary to the conventional belief that artificial sweeteners may trigger hunger and lead to increased food intake, there was no notable difference in hunger levels between the two groups. However, blood tests showed a slight increase in cholesterol and hemoglobin A1c levels in the sugar-free beverage group, but the number of participants affected was small and the rise was not clinically significant.

There were some limitations to the study. Only 220 out of the 493 participants completed the full two-year period, and some follow-up tests could not be conducted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, statistical analysis that accounted for participants who dropped out mid-study yielded consistent results. The fact that the research was conducted in a single region of the UK was also cited as a limitation.

The researchers stated, "We found no evidence that sugar-free beverages hinder weight management," adding, "On the contrary, they may help with long-term dieting by allowing people to enjoy sweetness without extra calories." However, as previous studies have suggested a correlation between artificial sweeteners and cardiovascular disease or diabetes, the researchers noted that further research is needed to determine long-term health effects.

This study was published in the international academic journal, the British Journal of Nutrition.

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