Study: Non-Nutritive Sweetened Beverages Effective Then Water for Weight Loss!

Discover the impact of NNS beverages vs. water in 52-week weight management. Results from a extensive clinical trial.

NNS Beverages Effective Then Water for Weight Loss!
NNS Beverages Effective Then Water for Weight Loss!

In a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious International Journal of Obesity, scientists looked at what happened when people switched from sugary drinks to non-nutritional sweetened (NNS) drinks and drank pure, refreshing water as part of a cutting edge weight management plan.

Background: NNS Beverage Vs Water

It is well known that drinking sugary drinks can make you gain weight. Because of this, dietary guidelines recommend drinking water or non-nutritive sweetened (NNS) drinks instead of sugary drinks to lower your sugar intake.

But different studies have come to different conclusions about the role of NNS drinks in weight control.

Some research studies show a link between drinking NNS drinks and having a higher body mass index (BMI) and weight.

Comprehensive systematic reviews and meta-analyses, on the other hand, show a more complex picture. The results show that people who choose non-sugar drinks may lose a little weight and eat fewer calories altogether, which could be good for their heart and metabolism compared to people who choose sugary drinks.

Still, it’s important to keep in mind that there isn’t a lot of long-term research on how NNS drinks affect long-term weight maintenance compared to water.

About the study

In this study, scientists did a thorough investigation to find out how water and non-nutritional sweetened (NNS) drinks affected weight changes during both the active weight loss and weight maintenance phases of the SWITCH trial, which was a functional weight loss trial.

People healthy and between the ages of 18 and 65 who drank more than three cold drinks a week were asked to take part in the study.

Their body mass index (BMI) ranged from 27 kg/m² to 35 kg/m². A detailed questionnaire was given to them to find out how often they usually drank alcohol.

People who drank less than three cold drinks a week, had food allergies, diabetes, heart disease, or who had recently undergone bariatric surgery were not eligible. So were people who did a lot of exercise or had lost a lot of weight in the past.

The study was set up with a 12-week active weight loss phase, a 40-week phase of assisted weight maintenance, and then a 52-week phase of non-assisted maintenance.

Randomly assigning participants to either the water or NNS beverage groups was done based on their gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and whether they had tried NNS drinks before.

Each of them was told to drink at least two cups of 330 ml of their chosen drink every day. Daily logs, food frequency questionnaires, and three-day food diaries were used to keep a close eye on people who stuck to the procedure.

Behavioral weight-loss classes were held once a week for the first 12 weeks of the trial. After that, they were held once a month.

The main thing that was looked at was how the body weight changed from the start to 52 weeks.

Additionally, changes were measured in glycemic control, hip and waist circumference, liver function, hunger levels, fasting lipid profiles, sugar and sweetener intake, and daily exercise levels, which were measured by the average number of steps taken each day.

The main analysis used data from people who finished the trial up to 52 weeks. Sensitivity analyses also looked at changes in hip and waist circumference and body weight taking into account things like sex, age, where the weight measurements were taken, and how much experience the participants had with NNS drinks.

Results

The study included 493 people who were chosen at random between July 2016 and December 2021.

However, only 262 people made it through the 52-week period. An amazing 93.6% of them attended the monthly behavioral weight-loss sessions, which shows how committed they were to the study.

Over 98.2% of people in both the water and non-nutritional sweetened (NNS) beverage groups stuck to the plan.

An analysis of the subjects’ demographics showed that about 70% were women and that a substantial 75.9% had previously consumed NNS beverages.

What’s interesting is that both groups lost the most weight in the first 12 weeks of the study. The NNS beverage group lost even more weight than the water group.

The most weight was lost in the NNS beverage group at week 36 and in the water group at week 44. After that, people started to gain some of the weight back.

It’s important to note that the NNS beverage group lost weight more slowly, which could be a benefit. In comparison to their starting weights, both groups had lost a lot of weight by the 52-week point.

People in the NNS drink group lost an average of 7.5 kg, while people in the water group lost an average of 6.1 kg.

There were also decreases in the sizes of the hips and waist. A small group of subjects who got full-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans showed that at week 52, there were big drops in fat mass, gynoid/android fat distribution, and fat-free mass in both groups.

The NNS beverage group also had a small but noticeable rise in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at week 52 compared to their readings at the start of the study.

At week 52, most indicators were much better in both groups than they were at the beginning. It’s worth noting that only the water group consumed significantly less sweetness, while both groups consumed significantly less sugar.

It’s interesting that at week 52, exercise levels were significantly higher in the NNS beverage group compared to their baseline levels and lower in the water group.

However, the difference in the water group wasn’t statistically significant.

Conclusions

Overall, both the NNS beverage group and the water group lost weight during the study. However, the NNS beverage group lost more weight than the water group, which was statistically significant. It’s important to note, though, that this difference may not be clinically meaningful, even though it is statistically significant.

In addition, both groups showed improvements in a number of anthropometric measures, biomarkers, and sugar intake, which shows that the interventions may have had some good effects.

It will be important to look at the 52-week optional extension phase again in the future to see if stopping nutritional education and support might affect the ability to keep off the weight for a long time.

This ongoing study could give us important information about how the interventions will affect weight maintenance and health in the long run.

Are non-nutritive sweetened beverages safe for consumption?

Yes, according to the FDA, these sweeteners are generally recognized as safe. However, moderation is key.

How do diet drinks affect insulin levels?

Diet drinks don’t lead to a spike in insulin levels since they lack sugar.

Can I replace all my water intake with diet drinks?

While diet drinks can aid in weight loss, water remains crucial for overall health. A balanced approach is recommended.

Do diet drinks have any side effects?

Excessive consumption of diet drinks can lead to potential health issues, so it’s important to consume them in moderation.

Are there specific sweeteners to watch out for in diet drinks?

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin are commonly used in diet drinks. Individuals with sensitivities should be cautious.

Can I enjoy the benefits of diet drinks without compromising my dental health?

Regular dental check-ups and maintaining good oral hygiene can mitigate any potential risks.

Study Reference

Harrold, J.A., Hill, S., Radu, C. et al. Non-nutritive sweetened beverages versus water after a 52-week weight management programme: a randomised controlled trial. Int J Obes (Link).

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