Using nonnutritive sweeteners as part of a healthy diet have several advantages. They offer consumers a way to enjoy sweet foods and beverages with little or no calories or glycemic response. They can help with weight management, control of blood glucose and prevent dental caries. For some consumers, they are a welcome alternative to sweeteners that have calories, but are they a good way to manage weight?

Nonnutritive sweeteners are part of many foods and beverages we consume today and have the potential to promote weight loss in overweight and obese people. However, it is important to note that the use of nonnutritive sweeteners has increased at the same time the prevalence of obesity has increased. The question is, do these sweeteners help contribute to our “sweet tooth” so that we continually have a desire for sweet foods and actually increase the risk of obesity? The effect of nonnutritive sweeteners on appetite and energy regulation is not well understood. A few studies have examined the effect of using intense sweeteners (nonnutritive sweeteners) on body weight. Results are mixed. In some cases, individuals compensate for the reduction in calories by consuming more calories. In other cases, individuals reduced their calories with little or no compensation. A small number of well-designed studies have shown that calorie-reduced beverages have resulted in some modest weight loss.

In conclusion there is no evidence that the addition of an intense sweetener promotes appetite or results in increased food consumption during some later meal. Therefore, individuals who wish to lose weight using nonnutritive sweeteners should do so along with a sensible weight management program that includes a balanced diet and physical activity.