The Effect of Artificial Sweeteners on Obesity: A Review of Literature

Abstract

The purpose of this literature review is to identify a relationship between obesity and the increased use of artificial sweeteners. In order to determine if this relationship exists, or if there is causality between the two, weight-gain, weight-loss, caloric intake, and hunger ratings were measured and compared amongst traditional and artificial sweetener groups. It was discovered that although artificial sweeteners may help in the control of weight in obese patients, the consumption of artificial sweeteners resulted in greater risk for obesity, increased weight gain, and increased caloric intake as compared to consumption of traditional sweetners with healthy patients. Hence, this may help solve the obesity epidemic in America, and the broader global rise in obesity rates. 

Introduction

Across the globe, obesity has become a major concern for all. Obesity is defined as excessive fat accumulation, and applies to anyone who has a BMI of 30 or greater (World Health Organization… 2020).  More specifically, it is disproportionately affecting Americans, who have declared obesity an epidemic in the United States. Since obesity is associated with numerous diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, (Blackburn et al. 1997) the rapid increase in prevalence of obesity across America and the globe is alarming. Most notable with this substantial growth, however, is that coinciding with this increase is an uptake in the amount of artificial sweeteners consumed (such as aspartame). The effect of artificial sweeteners on obesity is currently unsubstantiated; however, the effects of these artificial sweeteners on hunger, caloric intake, and weight gain/loss have been discovered, which may have implications on how artificial sweeteners affect obesity. The articles chosen in this literature review were arranged based on their findings on the relations between consumption of artificial sweeteners and hunger, caloric intake, or weight gain/loss. Although there was no single consensus amongst the articles, it was generally discovered that artificial sweeteners may be helpful in controlling weight in obese patients, while causing increased hunger and weight gain for those at a normal weight, which may lead to obesity. 

Effect of Aspartame on Weight-Loss 

In order to fully examine the effect of artificial sweeteners on obesity, the effect of using artificial sweeteners with an outpatient group of obese women was observed in the study conducted by Blackburn et al (1997). The use of non-nutritive sweeteners was examined as a strategy to ensure adherence to a weight-loss and weight-control program, which provides insight on the effect of these sweeteners on the maintenance of body weight. The study was conducted with two main periods over the course of 17 months: one 16 week intervention period in which weight loss was active, and another 12 month weight maintenance phase. Although both groups experienced a similar reduction in body weight over the 16 week period in which the diet was adhered to, the no aspartame group gained almost twice the amount of weight as compared to the aspartame group in the maintenance phase. This means that the use of aspartame may be helpful in obese populations, not so much in losing weight, but in keeping off the excess weight lost. The aspartame, according to Blackburn et al. (1997), may have satisfied a sweet tooth craving without the additional calories in those formerly obese patients, suggesting that obese people could use the artificial sweetener in order to better their lifestyles. 

Effect of Aspartame on Caloric Intake and Hunger Ratings

Aside from the effect non-nutritive sweeteners have on weight-loss and weight-control, to understand the role that these sweeteners may have on the increasing obesity rates, caloric intake and hunger ratings must also be accounted for. In one study, Ballard et al. (2012) sought to determine the effects of aspartame and saccharin (artificial sweeteners) on the caloric intakes of adult rats. Over the course of 12 weeks, three groups of rats were provided a similar diet of chow, as well as yogurt either sweetened with one of the artificial sweeteners or sucrose (the traditional caloric sweetener). Surprisingly, although the caloric intake was similar amongst all groups of rats observed, the groups which consumed the non-nutritive sweeteners ate more chow over the course of the experiment. 

Building off this, in a study conducted with human trials, the prospective hunger ratings amongst all groups (inclusive of aspartame and sucrose groups) were rated similarly, indicating no changes in hunger due to the type of sweetener (Lavin et al. 1997). Although the caloric intake was also similar amongst groups, on the second day, the caloric intake was greater in the non-nutritive sweetener groups. This indicates a possible stimulatory effect on hunger, which causes people, and rats, to eat more as seen amongst both studies (Lavin et al. 1997; Ballard et al. 2012).

Effect of Aspartame on Weight Gain

To continue, the effects of artificial sweeteners on weight gain may also provide insight on the obesity epidemic in the United States. There is definitive evidence that with increased consumption of artificial sweeteners, whether it be in the form of food or in beverages, there is an increase in weight as well when compared to the group consuming regular sweeteners (Ballard et al. 1997; Fowler et al. 2012). In addition, consuming a greater amount of artificially sweetened beverages was found to increase the risk of obesity by a factor of 2 (Fowler et al. 2012). The mechanisms behind these weight gains associated with artificial sweeteners are unknown, but they have implications on the obesity epidemic as it demonstrates the apparent weight gain with the consumption of artificial sweeteners. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, it has been demonstrated that although artifical sweeteners can help obese patients lose weight and maintain it, these non-nutritive sweeteners may cause an adverse effect in healthy individuals by increasing caloric intake and weight gained, as well as the risk of obesity. This has implications on the obesity and artificial sweetener relation, as these factors shed insight into the relationship between the two. Increased caloric intake and weight gain associated with artificial sweeteners may be fueling the obesity epidemic, which may allow global leaders to take action and possibly limit the use of these sweeteners in foods. However, questions regarding the mechanisms underlying these associations still remain and leave much to be researched, as does more research in order to confirm these findings. In its totality, this new evidence shines light on the possible culprit behind the obesity epidemic. 

 

References

Ballard CR, Batista BAM, Bertoluci MC, Foletto KC, Matos Feijo F, Neves AM, Ribeiro MFM. 10 October 2012. Saccharin and aspartame, compared with sucrose, induce greater weight gain in adult Wistar rats, at similar total caloric intake levels. Appetite. [accessed 23 April 2020] 60: 203-207. 

Blackburn GL, Kanders BS, Lavin PT, Keller SD, Whatley J. 1 February 1997. The effect of aspartame as part of a multidisciplinary weight-control program on short- and long-term control of body weight. AJCN. [accessed 22 April 2020] 65 (2): 409-18.

Fowler SP, Hazuda HP, Hunt KJ, Resendez RG, Stern MP, Williams K. 6 September 2012. Fueling the Obesity Epidemic? Artificially Sweetened Beverage Use and Long‐term Weight Gain. Obes. Res. [accessed 22 April 2020] 16 (8). 1894-1900. 

Lavin JH, French SJ, Read NW. January 1997. The effect of sucrose- and aspartame sweetened drinks on energy intake, hunger and food choice of female, moderately restrained eaters. IJO. [accessed 23 April 2020] 21 (1): 37-42. 

Obesity and overweight. 1 April 2020. WHO; [accessed 3 May 2020]. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight.