Sugar substitutes and weight gain

The May 14, 2008 issue of JAMA has a news and perspectives article on the possibility that low-calorie sweetners might be causing weight gain. The first article cited is a review of the literature in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007;61[6]:;691-700. The findings were mixed and there is currently no official recommendation on using subsitutes for weight control.

There's some support for the theory that artificial sweeteners blunt the body's energy expenditure mechanisms and activate taste pathways differently than sucrose. Something's not working right--we're a much heavier nation now than when sugar-free sweeteners first became popular and common in the 1980s.

Another recent study in Neuroimage (2008;39[4]:1559-1569) reveals that sugar is more potent than low-calorie sweeteners in stimulating brain areas related to expectation and satisfaction, thereby turning off the desire for more sweetness.

I'm sure that's what happened when I ate that piece of real carrot cake on Saturday. There's no way I could have had a second piece. It activated my tongue receptors which notified my brain--"No More!"

Eat real food--but just eat less of it; you'll be better off than eating low sugar or low fat, which isn't as satisfying or tasty, in my opinion.