Key points from article :
A new study published in Nature Metabolism reveals that sucralose — a widely used artificial sweetener found in many diet drinks and products like Splenda — may increase appetite rather than suppress it, potentially undermining weight management efforts. The research, led by Dr. Katie Page of the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, found that sucralose stimulates hunger-regulating areas of the brain, making people feel hungrier than when they consumed sugar or plain water.
The study involved 75 participants who were each given three different drinks on separate occasions: plain water, water with table sugar, and water with sucralose. Using brain imaging and blood tests, researchers observed that those who drank the sucralose-sweetened beverage reported nearly 20% more hunger and showed increased activity in brain regions linked to appetite and decision-making. Interestingly, sucralose did not trigger the usual hormonal signals that tell the brain we're full — creating a misleading “sweetness” signal without the expected energy boost.
These findings support earlier concerns raised by the World Health Organization and other experts, who warn that artificial sweeteners may not help with long-term weight control and could even be counterproductive. While companies maintain that sweeteners like sucralose are safe and helpful for managing diabetes and weight, scientists like Dr. Page recommend reducing all forms of sweeteners — both sugar and sugar-free — and instead focusing on retraining our taste buds to prefer less sweetness overall.
