Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
Are Diet Drinks Making You Fat?
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Diet & Nutrition
  3. Nutrition

Are Diet Drinks Making You Fat?

I know you’re not a fan of artificial sweeteners, but I wonder what you think of the recent study that linked no-cal sweeteners to weight gain? How can a no-cal beverage such as diet soda do that?

Andrew Weil, M.D. |March 21, 2008

side by side glasses of ice cold cola soda pop with retro striped straws
1 min

A study from Purdue University published in February 2008 did connect no-cal sweeteners with weight gain – in rats. The investigators speculate that the sweeteners change the way a rodent’s body regulates food intake and that this effect might apply to humans, too. There’s certainly some circumstantial evidence that artificial sweeteners are implicated in the obesity epidemic: the number of Americans consuming artificially sweetened food and drink rose from 70 million in 1987 to 160 million in 2000. During that same period, obesity rates rose dramatically.

Here’s what happened in the Purdue study: the researchers were looking for indications that the artificial sweetener they used (saccharin) affected the lab rats’ ability to regulate their food intake. They measured this by assessing the animals’ (1) caloric intake; (2) weight gain and (3) ability to reduce their intake to compensate for what they had been eating. They also measured the animals’ core body temperature, which rises as metabolism revs up at mealtime. The rats fed yogurt sweetened with saccharin had a much smaller rise in core body temperature after eating than did the ones that got sugar-sweetened yogurt. The investigators’ explanation is that the lower core temperature response in the saccharin group led to overeating and made it harder for the animals to burn off the calories they consumed.

We don’t know that this occurs in humans, but earlier evidence shows that people who drink more diet drinks are at higher risk for obesity and metabolic syndrome.

I’m sure this study isn’t the last word on the subject. Other researchers have found a connection between artificially sweetened foods and beverages and weight loss, but in many of those cases, other weight loss measures were employed as well. I find the Purdue findings thought-provoking. I have long advised people to stay away from artificial sweeteners for various reasons, and I do not believe they are an effective strategy for losing weight. In fact, evidence is accumulating that they make it harder to do so.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Advertisement
Related Weil Products

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Healthy Eating

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Nutrition – Want to change your diet? The Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging online guide is your anti-inflammatory diet headquarters. Start your free trial and get access to an exclusive version of Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid, hundreds of recipes, eating guides, and more.
Get Started
Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

With long green ice tea and glass teapot on unfocused background
Nutrition

10 Reasons To Drink Green Tea

Olive oil in small glass container with bottle of oil and cubes of butter
Nutrition

A Better Butter?

A Better Kind Of Sugar? | Nutrition | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Nutrition

A Better Kind Of Sugar?

Fried fish fillets with vegetable garnish on white
Nutrition

A Better Pink Fish?

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
With long green ice tea and glass teapot on unfocused background
Nutrition

10 Reasons To Drink Green Tea

Olive oil in small glass container with bottle of oil and cubes of butter
Nutrition

A Better Butter?

Daily Tips
HA_Asian-Mushrooms_1x1_663893996
Health Tips

Concerned About Cancer? 6 Asian Mushrooms To Consider

3 Tasty Ways To Cook Culinary Mushrooms | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Health Tips

3 Tasty Ways To Cook Culinary Mushrooms

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com