Stop using non-sugar sweeteners for weight control, or else...

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a new guideline regarding non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), advising against their use for weight management or reducing the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

This recommendation stems from a comprehensive analysis of available evidence, which indicates that the long-term use of NSS does not yield any significant benefits in terms of reducing body fat in adults or children. Furthermore, the review suggests that prolonged NSS consumption may have adverse effects, including an increased likelihood of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality among adults.

Francesco Branca, WHO Director for Nutrition and Food Safety, emphasizes that substituting free sugars with NSS does not aid in long-term weight control. Instead, individuals should explore alternative methods to reduce their



intake of free sugars, such as consuming foods with naturally occurring sugars like fruit or opting for unsweetened food and beverages. Branca asserts that NSS are not essential dietary components and offer no nutritional value. To enhance overall health, people should gradually decrease the overall sweetness in their diet, beginning from an early age.

The guideline applies to all individuals, except those with pre-existing diabetes, and encompasses both synthetic and naturally derived or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that do not fall under the category of sugars found in processed foods and beverages or those sold separately for consumer use. Common examples of NSS include acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, and stevia derivatives.

It's important to note that this recommendation does not pertain to personal care and hygiene products containing NSS, such as toothpaste, skin creams, and medications. Similarly, low-calorie sugars and sugar alcohols (polyols), which contain calories and are thus not considered non-nutritive sweeteners, are excluded from the guideline.

Due to potential confounding factors and complex patterns of NSS consumption, the observed link between NSS and disease outcomes in the evidence has been deemed conditional. As a result, policy decisions based on this recommendation may necessitate extensive discussions within specific country contexts, taking into account factors like the extent of NSS consumption among different age groups.

The WHO guideline on NSS is part of a comprehensive set of existing and upcoming guidelines on healthy diets. These guidelines aim to establish lifelong healthy eating habits, enhance dietary quality, and reduce the global burden of noncommunicable diseases.