Effects of non-nutritive sweetened beverages versus water after a 12-week weight-loss program: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare non-nutritive sweetened (NNS) beverages versus water for weight loss after a 12-week behavioral weight-management program.Methods: This is an ongoing, 2-year, parallel-group, open-label, controlled equivalence trial; week-12 data are reported. Adults with BMI of 27 to 35 kg/m(2) who regularly drank cold beverages were randomized 1:1 to intention-to-treat water or NNS beverages while undergoing a weekly 12-week group behavioral weight-management program. Weight change to week 12 was the primary end point (equivalence: two-sided p > 0.05); changes in waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, glycemic control markers, fasting lipid profiles, liver function tests, hunger (visual analog scale), sugar and sweetener consumption, and activity levels were secondary end points.Results: Overall, 493 participants were randomized (water: n = 246; NNS beverages: n = 247); 24.1% were NNS beverage naive. Weight change was equivalent with water versus NNS beverages (-5.6 vs. -5.8 kg; difference [90% CI]: -0.2 kg [-0.7 to 0.4]). There were no significant differences between groups for secondary end points except reductions in waist circumference (greater with NNS beverages vs. water), glycated hemoglobin, and consumption of any type of sweetener (both greater with water vs. NNS beverages).Conclusions: Weight loss was equivalent with NNS beverages and water following a 12-week behavioral weight-management program.

Automated summary

The objective of this study was to compare the weight loss effects of non-nutritive sweetened beverages and water after a 12-week behavioral weight-management program. The study found that both non-nutritive sweetened beverages and water were equally effective for weight loss during the program.