When you use sugar-free sweeteners instead of sugar, the more sugar you replace, the more weight you tend to lose—this suggests that cutting calories by swapping sugar is why you lose weight.

53

Pro

0

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

53

Community contributions welcome

53

The effects of low-calorie sweeteners on energy intake and body weight: a systematic review and meta-analyses of sustained intervention studies

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

2021 Mar

When people use sugar-free sweeteners instead of sugar, they lose more weight the more sugar they swap out—this study proves it. But if they just drink sweetened water without cutting sugar, they don’t lose weight, so it’s really about cutting calories, not just tasting sweetness.

Contradicting (0)

0

Community contributions welcome

No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

The effects of low-calorie sweeteners on energy intake and body weight: a systematic review and meta-analyses of sustained intervention studies

Score: 53

DOI: 10.1038/s41366-020-00704-2

Similar Assertions

If you swap sugary foods and drinks for ones with artificial sweeteners, you might lose about 1 kg and eat fewer calories—especially if you cut out a lot of sugar. But this only works if you’re replacing sugar, not just adding sweeteners on top.

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If you swap sugary drinks like soda for diet drinks with artificial sweeteners, you might lose weight and reduce fat in your body and liver — especially if you’re overweight or obese.

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