Diet soda drinkers lose more weight than water drinkers

[Hum]

Drinking diet beverages as part of a diet program might help you lose more weight than drinking water, a controversial new study reports. The new research, published Tuesday in the respected journal Obesity, has been criticized over its backing from the beverage industry. But the main finding ? that diet drinks don?t sabotage weight-loss efforts ? isn?t that surprising.

Researchers from the University of Colorado and Temple University's Center for Obesity Research and Education reported that people who consumed three or more diet drinks a week ? not only soda but pre-mixed beverages with artificial sweeteners ? as part of a structured weight-loss plan lost more weight over a three-month period compared to a group of dieters who drank only water.

People at two different sites, a total of 303 men and women, ages 21-65, participated in a 12-week randomized trial, meaning they were assigned to different groups to compare different treatments. The participants had a body mass index (BMI) ranging between 27 ? 40 (considered overweight or obese).

The study compared self-reported water intake with self-reported water and diet drink intake. Both groups were free to consume foods containing low-calorie sweeteners.

The most unexpected observation was that the group consuming diet drinks lost nearly 30 percent more weight compared to the water-only group. The participants in the diet drink group reported a small decrease in weekly hunger.

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[taim]

Could diet soda be tricking the body? The body thinks it's getting energy from the diet soda so it's fine with starting to use more energy you have stored in your body. 

[Hum]

Just the thought of diet soda is enuff to make me lose my appetite. :x

[RichardK]

Just the thought of diet soda is enuff to make me lose my appetite. :x

You have never tried Big Red Zero then....

[MikeChipshop Member]

Real science says no.

 

I'll wait for an impartial study before believing this.

Could diet soda be tricking the body? The body thinks it's getting energy from the diet soda so it's fine with starting to use more energy you have stored in your body. 

 

Could be possible.

[Skiver Veteran]

I'm very skeptical on this but I think what it's trying to say is, those that had "diet" drinks got the satisfaction of drinking a "sugary" drink so were less likely to give in to temptation of the foods they should be avoiding AKA... lack of will power.

 

I fight with my weight on a weekly basis so I completely understand (especially as sugary drinks are one of my problems) but I personally hate the taste of any of the diet drinks I've ever tried (obviously because I love the sugar!) so I wouldn't count on this being anything about diet drinks and more down to peoples will power.

[Matt Sharpe]

This isn't science, this is advertising.

 

The new research, published Tuesday in the respected journal Obesity, has been criticized over its backing from the beverage industry.

[Skiver Veteran]

This isn't science, this is advertising.

 

Wouldn't suprise me if there were a few free cases of diet <insert random soda company> now floating around Obesity

[hagjohn]

This runs contrary to many other studies lately that say that diet soda's make you gain weight.

[Depicus]

Not sure how you can call this science when the calorie intake of the participance and their calorie expenditure was not measured. Reminds me of the McDonalds study where a man eating only a BigMac and fries a day yet running for an hour lost weight.......

[x-scratch]

this is false i gained weight while i was drinking diet soda 2 to 3 cans a day. after 2 months of not losing any weight, i said what the $% and stopped drinking diet soda,

i found out that artificial sweeteners make you gain weight & retain water weight,  i'm better off drinking a can a day of reg mountain dew, dr pepper or coke then that

diet crap

 

 

btw i did end up losing 10 pounds since aug 1st when i stopped drinking diet soda

[FloatingFatMan]

^ What did you replace it with? Water? Or something else?

[theyarecomingforyou]

Just the thought of diet soda is enuff to make me lose my appetite. :x

Yeah, how dare people be responsible in what they drink.  :rolleyes:

[x-scratch]

^ What did you replace it with? Water? Or something else?

 

i was also drinking water & watched what i ate

[+Random Stranger Subscriber¹]

What complete lie and advertising in a magazine designed to help people (despicable)

Self reported intakes, no other ways to control

[+Random Stranger Subscriber¹]

I'm very skeptical on this but I think what it's trying to say is, those that had "diet" drinks got the satisfaction of drinking a "sugary" drink so were less likely to give in to temptation of the foods they should be avoiding AKA... lack of will power.

 

I fight with my weight on a weekly basis so I completely understand (especially as sugary drinks are one of my problems) but I personally hate the taste of any of the diet drinks I've ever tried (obviously because I love the sugar!) so I wouldn't count on this being anything about diet drinks and more down to peoples will power.

This seems the most likely reason (the only reason?)

[GotBored]

Not really surprising a few diet drinks now contain zero calories and a fair amount of caffeine.

 

You need to intake calories to gain fat, so no calories no fat gain.

 

Plus caffeine which speeds up your metabolism slightly and also acts as a mild appetite suppressant.

 

It doesn't mean they are healthy for you, they still contain food acids and most have food dye in them. So your drinking a bit of ink and phosparous acid every time you consume one but for weight loss sure, the caffeine does have some minor weight loss benefits.

[Depicus]

Not really surprising a few diet drinks now contain zero calories and a fair amount of caffeine.

 

You need to intake calories to gain fat, so no calories no fat gain.

 

Plus caffeine which speeds up your metabolism slightly and also acts as a mild appetite suppressant.

 

It doesn't mean they are healthy for you, they still contain food acids and most have food dye in them. So your drinking a bit of ink and phosparous acid every time you consume one but for weight loss sure, the caffeine does have some minor weight loss benefits.

 

There are 0 calories in water so should have produced the same results, plus water flushes all the toxins if you drink enough.

[techbeck]

Diet soda is just awful.  Id rather drink water.

[viennaa]

Just don't drink any soda.

[TAZMINATOR]

Diet Mtn Dew can help you lose weight but don't drink too much or you will get heart pain from it.  Drink Diet Dew 2 times a day is fine. I got this from experience myself.

 

So I changed and I drink water a few times a day and walk either 4 or 8 hours a day that will help you lose weight ...

 

Eat salad or fruit/vegs that help you lose weight as well.  That will help you stay in shape. Exercise.

[dead.cell]

I'm very skeptical on this but I think what it's trying to say is, those that had "diet" drinks got the satisfaction of drinking a "sugary" drink so were less likely to give in to temptation of the foods they should be avoiding AKA... lack of will power.

 

I fight with my weight on a weekly basis so I completely understand (especially as sugary drinks are one of my problems) but I personally hate the taste of any of the diet drinks I've ever tried (obviously because I love the sugar!) so I wouldn't count on this being anything about diet drinks and more down to peoples will power.

Pepsi Max, Diet Dr. Pepper, and Coca-Cola Zero are some of my favorites, in that exact order.

 

Other drinks taste too "diety".

 

---

 

Self-control / moderation help more than anything, along with exercise. The whole idea of drinking diet drinks to lose weight is silly.

 

Quick paths or shortcuts to success rarely work or are usually unhealthy. My mother for instance tried sticking to an absurd 500 calories a day, while taking in bad foods even when she did eat. Many frozen foods that are "lean" (see lean pockets) will tell you they are low in fat and calories, while "high" in protein, failing to mention how high their carb count is or the fact that it's full of sodium. You want good complex carbs (such as vegetables), not sodium enriched junk food.

 

Dieting isn't the easiest thing to do, but why make it harder on yourself jumping through all these hoops instead of taking the time to actually better yourself? Why make oneself miserable? That's what I never understood about some of the people I talk to.

 

Work smarter, not harder. You don't need to spend 6+ hours in the gym a week, I promise. (unless you've got really high goals for yourself) But you do need patience and discipline if you expect to see results. Consistency is the key word.

[TAZMINATOR]

 

Self-control / moderation help more than anything, along with exercise. The whole idea of drinking diet drinks to lose weight is silly.

 

 

It works on some people... not everyone...  the result may be vary on everyone...

 

Like this, "damn diet stuff not working for me.... let try something else... hmm let's try walking for a few hours a day"

 

it works.. 

 

That's why there are many kinds of types that help you lose weight or stay in shape as long as something works for you to lose weight/stay in shape.

 

As you see there are many kind of fitness programs on the TV these days.. such as Insanity, P90X, etc.  Even Xbox One has fitness app.

[dead.cell]

It works on some people... not everyone...  the result may be vary on everyone...

 

Like this, "damn diet stuff not working for me.... let try something else... hmm let's try walking for a few hours a day"

 

it works.. 

 

That's why there are many kinds of types that help you lose weight or stay in shape as long as something works for you to lose weight/stay in shape.

 

As you see there are many kind of fitness programs on the TV these days.. such as Insanity, P90X, etc.  Even Xbox One has fitness app.

 

You're right. Someone drinking 5+ sodas a day might actually see a difference. Really depends on how crappy one's diet is currently...

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

I wondered if flavored water, say tea / no sugar (or minimal sugar) would have the save effect.

 

I always get an after taste with just about every artificial sweetener to come out to date, so I do water or unsweetened tea.