ST. GEORGE — When people watching their weight and health are choosing between a Coke and a Diet Coke, or between the regular and sugar-free version Oreos, they’re likely to choose the diet version figuring they’re still being “good” to their body. 

But is that choice actually doing more harm than good?

In the last month, the World Health Organization has issued two bulletins saying that non-sugar additives like aspartame and sucralose actually hurt weight loss more than help. On top of that, aspartame, in particular, may lead to cancer. 

In a bulletin issued in late May, the WHO released a new recommendation that non-sugar sweeteners should not be used as an aid for weight loss. The bulletin stated that these non-sugar sweeteners could also lead to the onset of Type 2 diabetes. 

To add to that, a Reuters report says later this month, the WHO’s cancer research agency will declare aspartame – also known as Equal and Nutrasweet – as a cancer-causing chemical. 

But Lucy Sorensen, a dietitian with St. George Regional Hospital, told St. George News that while she recommends avoiding sweeteners to her patients, the WHO may be overly cautious.

“I will say as a registered dietitian, the debate on nonnutritive sweeteners and whether they are a good substitute has been ongoing for the entirety of my career,” Sorensen said. “I think the WHO organization is a little hasty to make such a blanket claim that people should not be using nonnutritive sweeteners or non-sugar sweeteners as they put it. There continues to be mixed reviews and debate with the substitute of these sweeteners.”

The WHO report, citing a “systematic review of the available evidence,” stated it wasn’t only artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin and sucralose causing problems but also “natural” non-sugar sweeteners like stevia. The WHO said it is conducting a systematic review of all dietary guidelines including the labeling of aspartame, like saccharin before it, as a carcinogen.  

Much of the reason comes from non-sugar sweeteners having no nutritional value and becoming potentially toxic substances in the body. In the case of aspartame, multiple studies say the body breaks it down into formaldehyde, which is a toxic substance used in the production of fertilizer. 

However, the Food and Drug Administration recently expressed concerns that the WHO is jumping the gun and said its scientists believe further study is needed. The American Beverage Association, which represents the makers of most diet sodas, is also crying foul, citing 100 studies between 1980 and 2021 saying that aspartame is safe. 

“There is very limited research to show negative cardiovascular effects from these nonnutritive sweeteners and we need to address their lifestyle as a whole not just the use of sugar or artificial sweeteners,” said Sorensen, who added the best option is for people to focus on natural whole foods and reduce the intake of sweetness in their diet overall.

“I also found the article from the WHO interesting as it is stating that these non-sugar substances can cause diabetes; however, it was still recommending that someone that is pre-diabetic should continue to use them rather than using regular sugar,” she added. 

So what is the health-conscious consumer left to do?

Sorensen, who is also the nutritionist for Utah Tech University athletics, said it’s important to acknowledge the reality that not everyone is ready to switch solely to water or non-sweetened beverages. She said it’s still a better option for calorie-conscious people to stick with Diet Coke or Coke Zero, rather than reaching for the real thing.

“Some sodas have the total amount of sugar we should consume in one day in just one can of soda. So if a patient is not willing to switch to water, but is willing to switch to nonnutritive sweeteners, I would not discourage them from doing so,” Sorensen said. “I would encourage them to include more water and limit the use of any sweeteners, but I still feel it is a better alternative than using full sugar.”

Sparkling and seltzer waters like Le Croix and Bubly are becoming popular alternatives as they don’t utilize any non-sugar sweeteners including stevia. But the “natural flavors” they use are broad by the FDA definition and could include fruit and vegetable juices but also such things as tree bark, oils and meat products combined to create a flavor.  

While the debate continues on whether artificial sweeteners are harmful to health, Sorensen said something everyone can agree on is a person is not going to lose weight relying on diet drinks and food alone.

“Weight loss has many contributing factors, and yes if the only change they make is adding artificial sweeteners, then they likely won’t lose weight,” Sorensen said. “There needs to be adjustments to their lifestyle as a whole.”

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