Artificial sweeteners contribute more to weight gain than food rich in sugar. A new study has found that consuming artificial sweeteners makes it harder to limit food intake and keep weight off.
The study, made by a team from the Purdue University in Indiana, suggested artificial sweeteners, which have zero or very low calories, have destroyed the physiological link between sweet tastes and calories, resulting to rats fed with sweeteners overeating.
Nine rats were given saccharin-sweetened yogurt and eight rats fed yogurt with glucose. After their yogurt, the 17 rats had their regular food. After five weeks the nine gained 80 grams on the average, while the eight added only 72 grams.
The rats were allowed to choose from plenty of food. Researchers revealed that the saccharin group ate more food and became obese within a short period.
Also, the body temperature of those taking the artificial sweetener showed a lower rise in body temperature, than those taking glucose.
In the U.S., the volume of sugar-free products since 2000 had double to 160 million items from less than 70 million in 1987. At the same time, obesity among adult Americans has climbed up by 30 percent from only 15 percent.
The findings are consistent with other studies involving humans that have raised the possibility that “increased intake of no-calorie sugar substitutes could promote increased intake and body weight gain,” the study says.