Sugar Substitutes Lead to Weight Gain... At Least in Rats

Artificial sweeteners have been popular for decades, as a way to enjoy sweet foods and beverages and not gain the weight associated with sugar. Paradoxically, obesity has been steadily climbing in our country from the early 1980s to today. During this period the prevalence of obesity among adults 20-74 years of age doubled from 15 to 31 percent.

A recent study from Purdue University tested the theory that eating sugar substitutes instead of the real thing may actually lead to weight gain, instead of weight loss. Although the scientists studied rats, the question was: Could artificial sweeteners be one of the reasons for the increase in obesity in humans?

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• Can Artificial Sweeteners Make You Gain Weight?

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