Watch VideoNew study: artificial sweeteners could make you fat
Story By: Bea Karnes
Source: NBC, Purdue University
If you're like the millions of Americans who use artificial sweeteners to cut down on calories, think about this: a new study shows rats that ate food sweetened with saccharin ate more, gained more weight and stored more fat over time than rats that ate regular sugar.
Dr. Susan Swithers of Purdue University says "what the results suggest is that consuming artificially sweetened products by themselves may not in fact contribute to weight loss - and to the contrary, may sometimes lead to weight gain."
What's more, the researchers say the artificial sweetener caused a biological change in the rats, slowing down their metabolism. The study used saccharin, but the authors believe the principle applies to other sweeteners as well. And it seems to bolster other studies that suggest so-called diet foods may not help you diet in the long run.
Dr. Susan Swithers says "so while we actually haven't tested this in humans, there are at least correlational data that suggests that this process may be happening in humans as well."
According to the researchers, when your body takes in something sweet, your metabolism revs up to start burning off the calories that usually follow. But when the calories just aren't there, your body could get confused. And the next time you do take in real sugar, your metabolic response may not kick in.
The study seems to explain why some of the heaviest consumers of artificial sweeteners are some of the heaviest Americans. But nutritionists say don't put too much stock into one study.
Ruth Frechman of the American Dietetic Association says "I don't think we can blame obesity on artificial sweeteners. The bottom line is that people react differently to artificial sweeteners. So you have to see how they affect you."
Whether you use sugar substitutes, experts say, there's still no substitute to healthy food and exercise when it comes to losing weight.
The study's authors plan more studies to see if the metabolism change caused by artificial sweeteners can be reversed.
