Title
Effects of sugar intake on body weight: A review
Author
Vermunt, S.H.F.
Pasman, W.J.
Schaafsma, G.
Kardinaal, A.F.M.
TNO Voeding
Publication year
2003
Abstract
Weight reduction programmes are mainly focused on reducing intake of fat and sugar. In this review we have evaluated whether the replacement of dietary (added) sugar by low-energy sweeteners or complex carbohydrates contributes to weight reduction. In two experimental studies, no short-term differences in weight loss were observed after use of aspartame as compared to sugar in obese subjects following a controlled energy-restricted diet. However, consumption of aspartame was associated with improved weight maintenance after a year. In two short-term studies in which energy intake was not restricted, substitution of sucrose by artificial sweeteners, investigated mostly in beverages, resulted in lower energy intake and lower body weight. Similarly, two short-term studies, comparing the effect of sucrose and starch on weight loss in obese subjects did not find differences when the total energy intake was equal and reduced. An ad libitum diet with complex carbohydrates resulted in lower energy intake compared to high-sugar diets. In two out of three studies, this was reflected in lower body weight in subjects consuming the complex carbohydrate diet. In conclusion, a limited number of relatively short-term studies suggest that replacing (added) sugar by lowenergy sweeteners or by complex carbohydrates in an ad libitum diet might result in lower energy intake and reduced body weight. In the long term, this might be beneficial for weight maintenance. However, the number of studies is small and overall conclusions, in particular for the long term, cannot be drawn.
Subject
Nutrition Health
Physiological Sciences
Body weight
Carbohydrates
Sugar
aspartame
starch
sucrose
sugar
sweetening agent
beverage
body weight
caloric intake
caloric restriction
carbohydrate intake
clinical trial
diet restriction
energy expenditure
fat intake
human
long term care
review
sugar intake
weight reduction
Aspartame
Body Weight
Dietary Fats
Dietary Sucrose
Eating
Energy Intake
Female
Glycemic Index
Humans
Male
Obesity
Sweetening Agents
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Weight Loss
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:4ba14660-6f13-484e-97c6-5e935752a31e
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1467-789x.2003.00102.x
TNO identifier
237081
ISSN
1467-7881
Source
Obesity Reviews, 4 (2), 91-99
Document type
article