DRINKS with sweeteners like Diet Coke do not help you lose weight, experts warn.
The World Health Organization today released guidelines advising not to have artificially-sweetened beverages if you want to shed the pounds.
GettyDrinks with artificial sweeteners in them can increase the risk of heart disease, WHO warned[/caption]
Chemicals in the drinks may also increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, the international agency said.
Francesco Branca, of the WHO, said: “Replacing free sugars with non-sugar sweeteners does not help with weight control in the long term.
“People need to consider other ways to reduce free sugars intake, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages.
“Non-sugar sweeteners are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value.
“People should reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether, starting early in life, to improve their health.”
WHO researchers examined data from 283 studies conducted in adults, children, pregnant women or mixed populations.
In the short term, sweeteners like aspartame and stevia only lead to small drop in weight “when their use leads to a reduction in total energy intake”, it said.
But the WHO also said there could be “undesirable effects” linked to long-term use, such as an increased risk of type two diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and death.
The authors said further research is needed.
Dr Duane Mellor, of Aston University, said: “Non-sugar sweeteners do not always provide the energy deficit that might be expected to help weight control.
“It is probably best not to stick with sugars to avoid sweeteners though – the answer is to try and reduce sugar intake.
“For some that might include using small amounts of sweeteners in foods and drinks as a way to reduce overall sugar intake.
“Sweeteners may still have a place as a transitional or stepping stone to help people reduce their sugar intake.”