Artificial Sweeteners May Cause Weight Gain

Ease up on the Splenda. New research by Purdue University scientists suggest artificial sweeteners may actually contribute to weight gain.

In a controlled study using rats that were fed yogurt with genuine and artificial sweeteners, researchers found that rats that consumed artificial sweeteners were less able to control their own appetites, ended up overeating, and gained more weight. The findings were published in the February issue of Behavioral Neuroscience.

"The take-home message is that consumption of artificially sweetened products may interfere with an automatic process," said Study author Susan Swithers, an associate professor of psychological sciences at the Ingestive Behavior Research Institute. By interfering with the rat's ability to associate a sweet taste with high calories, sweeteners actually cause metabolic changes that prevent rats from sensing when they are satiated.

Not everyone agrees this animal study can be generalized to humans, however. Lyn Nabors, president of the Calorie Control Council trade group, lambasted the study, saying it has "no basis in science" and "no relation to the human experience whatsoever."

It may be a case of: Damned if you do, damned if you don't.