Are Diet Soda Drinks Better Than Regular Soda?

Updated: 11/7/23

Simple logic would suggest that swapping a full sugar drink for a diet version cuts calories from your diet, yet such drinks have a mixed reputation. There is public concern about some sweeteners and current research is concluded that low-calorie sweeteners may lead to weight gain and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Studies looking at large groups of people have shown obese people tend to drink more fizzy diet drinks than those maintaining a healthy weight.

A study of US adults in the American Journal of Public Health showed 11% who were a healthy weight, 19% of those who were overweight and 22% who were obese drank diet beverages.

A study in the journal Obesity that followed 3,700 people for eight years showed those consuming the low-calorie sweeteners put on the most weight.  The researchers were left asking the question: Are artificial sweeteners fueling, rather than fighting, the very epidemic they were designed to block causing weight gain or are obese people turning to the diet drinks in effort to control their weight?

People may assume diet beverages must be healthy choices because they are not sugary beverages, but the critical thing for people to understand is we don't have the evidence, and further research needs to be done.  Although experts say that in an ideal world we'd all be drinking water, a study in Obesity journal even suggests "pre-loading" with water half an hour before eating actually helps people lose weight.  A diet beverage would be useful to have in your diet as a transition, from drinking regular soda every day if you find it too difficult to stop.

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