Are Diet Drinks Better Than Sugary Drinks?
Health Effects of Sugar-Sweetened and Artificially Sweetened Beverages: Umbrella Review and Evidence-Based Consensus Statement of the Korean Diabetes Association and the Korean Nutrition Society
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Diet drinks increase health risks similarly to sugary drinks over the long term.
Contradicts common marketing and belief that artificial sweeteners are a safe alternative for chronic disease prevention.
Practical Takeaways
Use diet drinks only as a short-term substitute for sugary drinks if you're at high metabolic risk, but switch to water or unsweetened beverages for long-term health.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Diet drinks increase health risks similarly to sugary drinks over the long term.
Contradicts common marketing and belief that artificial sweeteners are a safe alternative for chronic disease prevention.
Practical Takeaways
Use diet drinks only as a short-term substitute for sugary drinks if you're at high metabolic risk, but switch to water or unsweetened beverages for long-term health.
Publication
Journal
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal
Year
2026
Authors
Jong Han Choi, SuJin Song, S. Kim, J. Cho, J. Bae, Shinje Moon, J. Lim, YeonHee Lee, Ji-Yun Hwang, Yoon-Ju Song, Sang Soo Kim
Related Content
Claims (6)
Drinking sugary drinks quickly puts a lot of sugar into your blood, which can create conditions in your body that might help cancer grow because these drinks don't have fiber, don't make you feel full, and get absorbed really fast.
Drinking more diet sodas and other artificially sweetened drinks might raise your chances of dying from any cause, heart problems, or getting type 2 diabetes, according to big studies that tracked people over time.
Drinking diet sodas instead of sugary drinks might help some people lose a little weight for a while, especially if they're already at risk for heart problems. But drinking them for many years might not be safe and could actually cause health problems.
Switching from sugary drinks to diet drinks might help people lose a little weight and body fat, but it doesn't clearly improve blood sugar or heart health markers.
Drinking more sugary drinks like soda is linked to higher chances of dying from any cause, heart problems, and diabetes in both adults and teenagers.