Studies link diet soda to weight gain

Health Spotlight

By: Deleisa Bew, Staff Writer

Posted: 4/17/08

The weather is getting warmer. It time to shed that winter weight and prepare for the short-shorts, mini skirts and tank tops commonly associated with spring and summers in the south.

One great way to improve your diet and lose unwanted pounds is eliminating diet soda. Yes, that's right diet soda. Recent research has shown that artificial sweeteners in soda may interfere with your body's ability to estimate how many calories you've ingested, so you eat more than you need. According to researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, TX, that daily diet soda increases the possibility of weight gain by 41 per cent. Based upon this eight year study, Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, University of Texas Health Science Center, says she was not surprised that total soft drink consumption was linked to obesity.

"What was surprising was when we looked at people only drinking diet soft drinks, their risk of obesity was even higher," said Fowler.

In a recent animal studies, rats that ingested fake sugar consumed more calories overall and gained weight, compared to those that didn't eat artificially sweetened treats. Fowler added that a study of this kind does not prove that diet soda causes obesity.

"It shows that something linked to diet soda drinking is also linked to obesity," she added. "One possible part of the explanation is that people who see they are beginning to gain weight may be more likely to switch from regular to diet soda," Fowler suggests. "But despite their switching, their weight may continue to grow."

Certified Personal Trainer Kira Johnson, believes people are gaining weight simply because they eat too much. Johnson, who has worked with clients at various fitness facilities throughout Jackson, Miss., says that a diet product will not help you lose weight if you are still getting taking in too many calories from food.

"You gain weight by eating more calories than you need," said Johnson.

Johnson says she is amazed when she sees people eating buffalo wings, fries and drinking a diet soda.

"I constantly advise my clients to eat fewer calories than they need. If they do this they will lose weight. People tend to overeat when they believe that are receiving fewer calories," said Johnson.

Johnson suggests that people look at what is on their plate and not in their glass.

"If you don't do anything but switch to a diet soft drink, you are not going to lose weight," she said. "In order to lose weight, you must exercise and follow a health eating plan."