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Review
. 2010 Jun;83(2):101-8.

Gain weight by "going diet?" Artificial sweeteners and the neurobiology of sugar cravings: Neuroscience 2010

Qing Yang  1
Affiliations
Review

Gain weight by "going diet?" Artificial sweeteners and the neurobiology of sugar cravings: Neuroscience 2010

Qing Yang. Yale J Biol Med. 2010 Jun.

Abstract

America's obesity epidemic has gathered much media attention recently. A rise in the percent of the population who are obese coincides with an increase in the widespread use of non-caloric artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame (e.g., Diet Coke) and sucralose (e.g., Pepsi One), in food products (Figure 1). Both forward and reverse causalities have been proposed. While people often choose "diet" or "light" products to lose weight, research studies suggest that artificial sweeteners may contribute to weight gain. In this mini-review, inspired by a discussion with Dr. Dana Small at Yale's Neuroscience 2010 conference in April, I first examine the development of artificial sweeteners in a historic context. I then summarize the epidemiological and experimental evidence concerning their effects on weight. Finally, I attempt to explain those effects in light of the neurobiology of food reward.

Keywords: acesulfame K; artificial sweeteners; aspartame; food reward; neotame; non-caloric; obesity; postingestive effects; saccharin; sucralose; sugar; weight gain.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Time line of artificial sweetener use and obesity trends in the United States. Blue line: changes in the percentage of the population who are obese (BMI >30) from 1961 to 2006. Source: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [57]. Orange line: changes in the percentage of the population who are regular artificial sweetener users from 1965 to 2004. Source: National Household Survey [2]. Purple line: changes in the number of new artificial sweetener containing food products introduced to the American market from 1999 to 2004. Source: Mintel Market Analysis [14]. Bars below the time axis indicates the type and availability of artificial sweeteners in the United States over time. Source: Kroger et al [9].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Structures of sucrose, a natural caloric sweetener, and various artificial sweeteners. Source: Kroger et al. [9] and Brown et al [25].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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