Full Breakdown
Diet Soda and Water Show Similar Weight-Loss Outcomes in Two-Year UK Study
By Drooid · · How we work
Study Overview
Researchers at the University of Liverpool conducted a randomized trial in England that followed nearly 500 overweight or obese adults for almost two years. Participants were assigned to consume either plain water or at least two daily servings of non-nutritive-sweetened beverages—including diet colas, diet carbonated soft drinks, diet fruit drinks and sweetened waters. All participants were enrolled in a structured behavioral weight-management program that provided nutrition support and regular group meetings during the first year, followed by an unassisted second year.
Findings & Statistics
Of the original cohort, 220 participants completed the full study. The water group maintained an average weight loss of 3.7 kilograms (? 8 lb), while the sweetened-beverage group maintained an average loss of 4.8 kilograms (? 10.6 lb). The difference was not statistically significant, indicating that neither drink strategy produced superior long-term weight outcomes. Both groups also experienced comparable reductions in waist and hip circumference and similar improvements in body-composition measures.
Context & Reactions
The results contrast with longstanding concerns among health professionals that artificial sweeteners may promote cravings or weight gain. The World Health Organization’s 2023 conditional recommendation advises against using non-sugar sweeteners as a weight-control strategy, a stance based on a broader body of observational studies and trials. Researchers also note that other investigations have linked higher intake of certain low- and no-calorie sweeteners to accelerated cognitive decline, though those studies do not establish causation.
The trial was funded by the American Beverage Association, but the investigators reported full independence in study design, data analysis and reporting.
Verbatim Quotes
- “These latest findings show that concerns about sweeteners disrupting appetite or causing weight gain are not supported when tested in a rigorous, long-term randomized trial,” — Prof. Joanne Harrold, professor — Prof. Joanne Harrold, professor
