The World Health Organization (WHO) advises against using sugar-free sweeteners to control weight. Studies have shown that this can help in the short term to lose weight or not to gain weight. With long-term use, however, the risk of weight gain and obesity increases, the WHO said in Geneva today.
She published this guideline: “The WHO recommends that sugar-free sweeteners should not be used as a means of weight control or to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases.” Separately, the WHO also recommends reducing sugar consumption.
WHO experts have reviewed numerous studies on the use of sugar-free sweeteners. In adults, long-term consumption was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, among other things. There are fewer studies on children. Overall, there is little evidence that consuming sweetened beverages with sugar-free sweeteners contributes to fat reduction. However, two studies have shown that drinks with sweeteners instead of sugar reduce tooth decay.
1.9 billion adults worldwide are overweight
Billions of people are affected by overweight and obesity, writes the WHO. In 2016, 1.9 billion adults worldwide were overweight, more than 600 million of them severely overweight. In 2020, 38 million children under the age of five would have been overweight.
A high body mass index (BMI), which estimates a person’s body fat percentage, caused four million deaths worldwide in 2017. BMI is calculated from height and weight.
The WHO refers to the latest available estimates for all figures. She counts all synthetic and natural sweeteners as sugar-free sweeteners, including products from the Stevia plant.
