But what is the problem with artificial sweeteners?

There are several. Since artificial sweeteners reduce the number of calories consumed, they could lead to weight loss and reduction in body mass index (BMI) in the short term. However, they have been linked to weight gain in the long run, as per the WHO report. As per the report, a higher intake of NSS was associated with a 23 per cent increase in the risk of type-2 diabetes when consumed in the form of beverages, and a 34 per cent increase when added to foods. The higher intake of these sweeteners was also associated with a 32 per cent increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease, including a 19 per cent increase in the risk of stroke and a 13 per cent higher likelihood of hypertension. Some low-certainty data link the use of artificial sweeteners to bladder cancer and a 25 per cent greater likelihood of preterm birth (when consumed by pregnant women).

Artificial sweeteners – yay or nay? What WHO has said

If you love to eat or drink sweet things, the World Health Organization has a warning for you.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | May 18, 2023 05:00 PM IST

1 min read

The WHO has advised against the intake of artificial sweeteners. (Representational image/Getty)

If you love to eat or drink sweet things, the World Health Organization has a warning for you!

In a report released on Monday, May 15, the WHO strongly advised against the use of artificial sweeteners, commonly found in packaged foods, to control weight and prevent lifestyle diseases such as diabetes.

Their intake may lead to short-term gains, but those will be overshadowed by the long-term losses, the guideline on non-sugar sweeteners stressed.

Wait, what are artificial sweeteners?

Non-sugar sweeteners or artificial sweeteners are intensely sweet chemicals – up to several hundred times sweeter than sugar – that are used for sweeten food while only adding very little or no calories.

Many diabetics use them in tea or coffee, and there are a large number of packaged foods and beverages that use NSS to offer low-calorie options.

What exactly has the WHO said?

“WHO suggests that non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) not be used as a means of achieving weight control or reducing the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)," was the main recommendation in the 90-page report released by the global health body earlier this week.

Which artificial sweeteners should I look out for in packaged food?

The WHO report listed acesulfame K (Ace-K), aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, and stevia derivatives as common NSS.

What are some popularly consumed items that use artificial sweeteners?

Coke Zero, Coca Cola's popular drink for weight-watchers, is sweetened with a blend of aspartame and Ace-K. Diet Coke contains aspartameor Splenda.

What does the WHO report say about people who are diabetic?

The guidelines are not applicable to those living with type 2 diabetes, the WHO said.

What do Indian doctors have to say about this?

Dr Anoop Misra, chairman at Fortis C-DOC Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences, said that non-diabetic people should absolutely avoid consuming NSS for weight loss. “Even among diabetics I would recommend it very selectively to those who have good control over their sugars,” he said.

Dr Misra emphasised that erythritol, an NSS which is usually mixed with other artificial sweeteners to give them a more natural flavour, can stay in the body for several days after consumption. "Read the label and avoid it," he advised.

On the other hand, Dr Mohan, the chairman of Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, took a more moderate position. “It is a very strong statement from the WHO; none of the professional associations says that artificial sweeteners are harmful,” he noted.

He stated that NSS, when consumed in small quantities such as in tea or coffee by diabetics, should not be harmful.

Read the full report here: Are artificial sweeteners harmful for your health? Here’s what the WHO has recommended

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