Sugar Substitutes for Weight Loss Should Not Be Ignored: WHO
Don’t Leave Sugar Substitutes for Weight Loss: WHO
Non-sugar sweeteners are not recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for use in controlling weight or lowering the risk of non-communicable illnesses.
The advice is based on research that says that non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) won’t have a lasting impact on a person’s ability to lose weight, whether they are adults or kids.
Sugar Substitutes for Weight Loss Should Not Be Ignored: WHO
According to the WHO, the findings also raise the possibility of unfavourable consequences from long-term NSS use, including an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular illnesses, and adult mortality.
“In the long run, replacing free sugars with NSS does not aid in weight management. Francesco Branca, WHO Director for Nutrition and Food Safety, stated that people need to think about alternative strategies to minimise their intake of free sugars, such as consuming foods with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages.
“NSS have no nutritional value and are not necessary dietary components. To boost their health, people should completely cut back on sweetness in their diets, starting at a young age, according to a statement from Branca.
WHO Advice for Weight Loss
The advice covers any artificial, naturally occurring, or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not considered to constitute sugars, with the exception of people who have a history of diabetes.
These sweeteners can be bought separately and added to meals and beverages by consumers, or they can be found in manufactured foods and beverages. Aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, and stevia derivatives are examples of common NSS.
The WHO states that low-calorie sugars and sugar alcohols (polyols), which are sugars or sugar derivatives containing calories and are therefore not considered NSS, are sugars or sugar derivatives that are not considered NSS. Examples of such products include toothpaste, skin cream, and medications.