The SWEET project was a one-year trial to determine whether using sweeteners as part of a healthy low-sugar diet could help people manage their weight after rapid weight loss.

Researchers recruited 341 overweight or obese adults and 38 overweight children from Denmark, Spain, Greece, and the Netherlands.

During the first two months of the study, adults followed a low-calorie diet with the goal of losing at least 5% of their body weight, while children were advised to maintain their weight.

Over the next 10 months, participants were divided into two groups.

• Group A: Subjects were allowed to eat a healthy diet with less than 10% of calories from added sugars and to consume foods and drinks containing sweeteners.
• Group B: The subjects ate the same healthy diet but without sweeteners.

Throughout the study, participants completed questionnaires about diet, eating habits, physical activity, and quality of life.

Their weight, body measurements, and markers of diabetes and heart disease were also measured at the start and at 2, 6, and 12 months.

“Six months after the intervention, we found that the group that consumed sweeteners and sugar substitutes had greater dietary satisfaction, a more positive mood, and fewer cravings for sweet foods,” Dakin said. he explained.

“Meanwhile, after 12 months, the group that avoided sweeteners and sugar substitutes had an increased preference for other calorie-containing sweet foods,” Dakin noted.

Additionally, the group that used sweeteners had slightly better weight retention after one year than the group that did not use sweeteners.

“We also found that participants who consumed sweeteners during the study tended to view sweeteners more positively about their health effects by the end of the study. People have become less positive about artificial sweeteners and somewhat more positive about the safety of sugar.”

— Clarissa Dakin, study co-lead author

Additionally, the researchers found no significant differences in markers of diabetes and heart disease between the two groups.

However, further research with larger numbers of children will be needed to clarify the effects of sweeteners on young people.

Natural and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, stevia, and saccharin are widely used in the food and beverage industry to lower sugar content and are included in a variety of products such as soft drinks, desserts, and breakfast foods.

Sweeteners are consumed by millions of people every day around the world, especially those seeking low-calorie alternatives to regular sugar.

Many experts suggest replacing sugar with low- or zero-calorie sweeteners to promote weight loss and weight management in overweight or obese adults.

However, debate continues regarding the safety of sweeteners for human health and their effects on appetite, weight management, and obesity.

This study suggests that incorporating sweeteners into a healthy, low-carbohydrate diet may help manage weight without increasing the risk of diabetes or heart disease, and other research in this area It is contradictory.

vice versa, systematic review Research conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that replacing sugar with non-sugar sweeteners is not effective for long-term weight management and increases the risk of various health problems, including diabetes and heart disease. It has been suggested that this is possible.

However, the WHO report acknowledges that there is a lack of evidence linking sweeteners to disease outcomes and that more research is still needed.

Additionally, the WHO recently declared the common artificial sweetener aspartame a potential human carcinogen, but maintains that further research is needed into its potential cancer risks in humans. .

Although further research is still needed into the long-term health effects of sweeteners, the positive results of this study on sweeteners and sugar substitutes suggest that overall dietary satisfaction, positive mood, and It may promote a sense of control over food cravings, Dakin noted.

These traits may help maintain weight, Dakin explained.

“This knowledge may help patients and the public understand some of the benefits of sweeteners in supporting long-term weight maintenance after weight loss,” Dakin said.

Courtney Peritella, R.D. at Top Nutrition Coaching, who was not involved in the study, told MNT that new research on using sweeteners for weight management is exciting and applicable to patient populations. .she pointed out that MNT:

“This study increases my confidence as a medical professional when recommending foods containing sweeteners as sugar replacements. The standout information is the increase in meal satisfaction with the sweetener group. As we work with our clients to improve long-term healthy eating habits, we know that being satisfied with the food you eat is essential. Healthy eating is about practicing and maintaining the habits for a lifetime. If you can’t do it, it won’t be effective.”