Energy balance
In overweight or obese adults, consuming non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) leads to a small but statistically significant reduction in body weight compared to consuming sugar or placebo, whereas no significant weight change occurs in normal-weight adults.
If you are overweight or obese, switching from sugar-sweetened beverages to those with non-sugar sweeteners can help you lose a small amount of weight (approx. 2 kg) over several months compared to drinking sugary versions. This benefit is not seen in people who are already normal weight. The key is consistency and staying within safe daily intake limits.
Subgroup analysis by body weight status suggested that NSS use by overweight or obese individuals (that is, those not trying to lose weight, mean body weight 86.87 kg) resulted in reduced body weight of 1.99 kg (95% confidence interval −2.84 to −1.14; three studies, n=146, duration of studies, four weeks to six months) but no change in individuals of normal weight (0.03 kg, −0.03 to 0.09; two, n=110; fig 3).
Why this rating
The evidence is rated 'very low' or 'low' certainty due to small sample sizes, short duration, and methodological limitations.
Source
Association between intake of non-sugar sweeteners and health outcomes: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials and observational studies
Ingrid Toews et al. · BMJ · 2019
DOI 10.1136/bmj.k4718
More from this paper
- In children, consuming non-sugar sweeteners is associated with a smaller increase in body mass index (BMI) z-score compared to consuming sugar, but there is no significant difference in body weight.Moderate
- There is no compelling evidence that non-sugar sweeteners provide important health benefits for weight loss in adults or children who are actively trying to lose weight, nor do they significantly improve glycaemic control or other major health outcomes compared to sugar.Limited
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