Diet Beverages Better than Water for Weight Loss, Researchers Say

Diet beverages help people lose weight, a new study shows.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado's Anschutz Health and Wellness Center and was published in the journal Obesity

"This study clearly demonstrates that diet beverages can in fact help people lose weight, directly countering myths in recent years that suggest the opposite effect - weight gain," said James O. Hill, PhD, co-author of the study, according to a news release. "In fact, those who drank diet beverages lost more weight and reported feeling significantly less hungry than those who drank water alone. This reinforces that if you're trying to shed pounds, you can enjoy diet beverages."

The study was supported by THE American Beverage Association (ABA), a trade association in Washington DC.

Studies show that diet sodas and other beverages are not as healthy as considered. In a review published in Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, Qing Yang wrote about how artificial sweeteners affect the body as well as change the circuitry of the brain.

In the present study, researchers pitched water against diet drinks to see which one helped people lose weight. The team conducted a randomized clinical trial that included 303 participants. Study subjects were divided into two groups with one group staying on diet beverages such as diet sodas and flavored water. The other group drank only water. Apart from the difference in drinks, participants followed identical diets and exercise regimen.

The study showed that people who drank diet beverage lost around 13 pounds of an average while people who drank water shed around 9 pounds.

The study also found that people who drank diet beverages had lower levels of bad cholesterol.

"There's so much misinformation about diet beverages that isn't based on studies designed to test cause and effect, especially on the internet," said John C. Peters, PhD, co-author of the study and the chief strategy officer of the CU Anschutz Health and Wellness Center. "This research allows dieters to feel confident that low and no-calorie sweetened beverages can play an important and helpful role as part of an effective and comprehensive weight loss strategy."