Low-Calorie Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Impact on Weight: A Systematic Review
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Date
2016-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
The overconsumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) has frequently been targeted as a significant contributor to the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States. Many American adults opt for low-calorie sweetened beverages (LCSB), such as Diet Coke, as a replacement. LCSB provide consumers with the sweetness of a traditional soda without the excessive caloric intake provided by added sugar. However, some researchers have called the use of LCSB into question, arguing that the consumption of LCSB may lead to weight gain rather than prevent it by disrupting metabolic responses, increasing one’s preference for sweet substances, and decreasing feelings of satiety. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate whether there is an association between the consumption of LCSB beverages and impact on weight among adults. The PubMed database was used to identify studies relevant to the research question and inclusion criteria. Seven studies satisfied the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The results of the studies were assessed and summarized narratively. The results were inconclusive; two randomized control trials indicated a negative association, four randomized control trials indicated no association, and one prospective cohort study reported a positive association between LCSB and body weight. Possible explanations for these findings and implications for future research are discussed.
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Keywords
low-calorie sweetened beverages, artificially-sweetened beverages, body weight, body mass index, overweight/obesity