What are the main benefits of artificially sweetened beverages?

ASBs are often used by people who are trying to lose weight. Since they taste sweet, they can be substituted in place of higher-calorie sugar-sweetened beverages, helping to lower calorie intake while still providing a similar taste. This is also beneficial since fluids are generally less satiating than solid foods, so drinking ASBs helps limit the calories in drinks, leaving more room in a weight loss plan for food.^[1][2][3] In some studies, a high intake of ASBs is associated with higher BMI, but this is not necessarily because they cause weight gain: it’s commonly thought that people who have a higher BMI are more likely to drink ASBs, possibly in support of attempts to lose weight. In fact, some research shows that replacing sugar-sweetened beverages with ASBs may help not only with losing weight, but also with maintaining weight loss.^[4][5][6] In people with diabetes, replacing sugar-sweetened beverages with ASBs may not only help improve disease control, but may even lower medication requirements in some cases. Of course, ASBs should be used in conjunction with other appropriate lifestyle modifications.^[1][7]

Maintaining a healthy weight with the help of ASBs in place of sugar-sweetened beverages may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and of certain cancers associated with overweight or obesity. Obesity-related cancers include gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and breast cancer. However, the study also noted a possible association between ASB and CVD in some subgroups; this needs to be investigated further, but in the meantime, the study authors note that it is worth considering replacing SSBs with water rather than ASB where possible.^[8]