|
 Researchers at Johns Hopkins University analyzed
data from a U.S. survey of 24,000 people over a period of 10 years.
People who were overweight or obese generally consumed the same
amount of calories a day no matter what they drank, but those who
chose diet drinks got more of those calories from food.
Outside experts were quick to caution that it is not clear what
role, if any, diet drinks such as low- or no-calorie versions of
sodas, sports drinks and teas played for people who ate more.
In the study, published in the American Journal of Public Health,
overweight drinkers of diet beverages in the United States ate 1,965
in food calories a day compared to 1,874 calories among heavy people
who drank regular sugar-sweetened beverages.
Among obese diet beverage drinkers, those who consumed low- or
no-calorie drinks ate 2,058 calories a day in food versus 1,897 food
calories for those who had regular drinks, researchers said.
Such differences were statistically significant, they added.
Lead author Sara Bleich said the results, when paired with other
research, suggest that artificial sweeteners may affect people's
metabolism or cravings, although more study is needed.
She acknowledged that people could be deciding to eat more since
they are saving calories with their diet drinks.
"The push to diet soda may not make a lot of sense if you are then
also eating more solid food," Bleich said. "The switch from a sugary
beverage to a diet beverage should be coupled with other changes in
the diet, particularly reducing snacks."
Critics said the analysis, based on data from the National Health
and Nutrition Examination survey between 1999 and 2010, is flawed
and that it is too early to say what, if any, role the low-calorie
drinks or their artificial sweeteners play in weight loss.
Several researchers noted that the study did not track a set group
of people over time and only looked at a 24-hour snapshot of what
any individual consumed.
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The beverage industry, which has long promoted diet drinks as an
alternative to full-calorie beverages, defended such alternatives to
help manage weight. "Losing or maintaining weight comes down to balancing the total
calories consumed with those burned through physical activity," the
American Beverage Association said in a statement on Thursday.
Low- or no-calories drinks contain artificial sweeteners such as
aspartame and sucralose. Many beverage companies are also turning to
other alternatives, such as the extract of Stevia.
Kelly Brownell, a professor psychology and neuroscience at Duke
University and dean of its Sanford School of Public Policy, said
while the study was compelling and there are still many questions
about such sweeteners, more data is needed.
"People need to separate the biology from the psychology," he said.
Bonnie Liebman, the director of nutrition at the Center for Science
in the Public Interest, said while her group may have other
questions about artificial sweeteners, "it's premature to conclude
that it's something going on in your brain."
In the meantime there are other ways to watch your weight, she said:
"You're much better off with water — or coffee or tea, if they're
unsweetened."
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; editing by
David Gregorio)
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