It is often claimed that aspartame (and other nonnutritive sweeteners) can suppress appetite, cause weight loss, and improve aspects of cardiometabolic health (e.g., blood glucose control and cholesterol). Because aspartame is a nonnutritive sweetener that is used to replace sugar in some foods and drinks, some people with weight loss goals use aspartame-containing foods and drinks as part of an energy restriction diet. Reducing sugar intake as a way to lower total daily energy intake can help support a weight loss strategy,[1][2][3][4] and some,[5][6][7] but not all,[8][9] studies show that a single dose of aspartame can acutely reduce food intake at the next meal. However, the current evidence does not show long-term health benefits of aspartame on energy intake, weight loss, or cardiometabolic health.[10][11] Consequently, there does not appear to be any direct benefit from ingesting aspartame.
What are aspartame’s main benefits?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Aspartame is claimed to help suppress appetite, aid in weight loss maintenance, and improve cardiometabolic health, which makes it popular among people who are on energy restriction diets. However, current evidence does not support long-term health benefits from aspartame in terms of energy intake, weight loss, or cardiometabolic health.