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New data suggests that drinking diet drinks can make you gain weight: Choosing hypocaloric soft drinks means you're more likely to consume extra calories, scientists have discovered.
Their new study, published in Pediatric Obesity, shows that children and teens who drink Coca Light and other dietary drinks consume an extra 200 calories a day.
This is compared to their peers who drank only water.
Consume at least 2 diets SODAS PER DAY, RELATED TO BODYWORK, HEART DISEASE: STUDY
More surprisingly, children who consume dietary drinks consume as many calories a day as those who consume sugary drinks, such as regular Coca-Cola.
"The water should be recommended"
Dr. Allison Sylvetsky, who led the study at George Washington University, said, "These findings challenge the utility of dietary or sweetened beverages to reduce calorie intake and manage the weight."
"Our findings suggest that water should be recommended as the best choice for children and adolescents."
His team has been studying diet drinks for years.
Previous studies have shown that children and young adults consume low-calorie sweeteners in many foods and beverages – not just diet sodas. In 2017, their results showed that the consumption of these sweeteners jumped by 200% in children and adolescents from 1999 to 2012.
Yet, despite their popularity, scientists still do not know how sweeteners affect a child's total calorie intake during the day. And the jury still does not know if they really help you lose weight.
Dietary drinks do not reduce calorie intake
To examine the issue more closely, Sylvetsky and his team examined the diet registers of 7,026 children and adolescents enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Survey from 2011 to 2016.
Children and adolescents reported what they had eaten and drunk for 24 hours.
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The researchers focused on children who drink sodas filled with low-calorie sweeteners or sugar.
They found that young people who drank diet drinks consumed more calories and consumed more calories from added sugars in foods and beverages than water drinkers.
The researchers also noted, after taking into account body weight:
- Children who drink diet drinks consume 196 extra calories a day
- Children who drink sweet sodas – such as regular Coca-Cola – consume 312 extra calories a day
- Children who drink both a diet and regular drinks consume 450 extra calories a day, compared to water drinkers.
Weight gain can be deadly
Sylvetsky said the results are important because nearly one in three children in the United States is overweight or obese, increasing their risk of type 2 diabetes, heart problems, cancer and other health problems .
She added that the study suggests a connection between drinking diet sodas and eating more calories and sugar during the day.
Although scientists are not convinced of the benefits of dietary drinks to help people lose weight, experts have tried to offer parents practical advice.
The American Heart Association has also recently recommended "against the prolonged consumption of low-calorie sugary drinks by children".
Sylvetsky agreed. She said that children and adolescents – as well as adults – should aim to drink more water than soft drinks and consume a lot of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
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She suggested trying flavored sparkling water, with a touch of 100% fruit juice, as a good alternative to soft drinks.
This story originally appeared on The Sun. Read more of The Sun's content here
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