The effects of water and non-nutritive sweetened beverages on weight loss and weight maintenance: A randomized clinical trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the effects of water versus beverages sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) on body weight in subjects enrolled in a year-long behavioral weight loss treatment program.

METHODS:

The study used a randomized equivalence design with NNS or water beverages as the main factor in a trial among 303 weight-stable people with overweight and obesity. All participants participated in a weight loss program plus assignment to consume 24 ounces (710 ml) of water or NNS beverages daily for 1 year.

RESULTS:

NNS and water treatments were non-equivalent, with NNS treatment showing greater weight loss at the end of 1 year. At 1 year subjects receiving water had maintained a 2.45 ± 5.59 kg weight loss while those receiving NNS beverages maintained a loss of 6.21 ± 7.65 kg (P < 0.001 for difference).

CONCLUSIONS:

Water and NNS beverages were not equivalent for weight loss and maintenance during a 1-year behavioral treatment program. NNS beverages were superior for weight loss and weight maintenance in a population consisting of regular users of NNS beverages who either maintained or discontinued consumption of these beverages and consumed water during a structured weight loss program. These results suggest that NNS beverages can be an effective tool for weight loss and maintenance within the context of a weight management program.

• Authors: John C Peters, Jimikaye Beck, Michelle Cardel, Holly R Wyatt, Gary D Foster, Zhaoxing Pan, Alexis C Wojtanowski, Stephanie S Vander Veur, Sharon J Herring, Carrie Brill, James O Hill
• Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) (Obesity (Silver Spring)) Vol. 24 Issue 2 Pg. 297-304 (Feb 2016) ISSN: 1930-739X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26708700 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2015 The Authors, Obesity published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Obesity Society (TOS).

Chemical References

• Non-Nutritive Sweeteners
• Water

Topics

• Adult
• Beverages
• Body Mass Index
• Body Weight
• Energy Intake
• Female
• Humans
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Non-Nutritive Sweeteners (administration & dosage)
• Obesity (diet therapy)
• Water (administration & dosage)
• Weight Loss (physiology)