Sugar-free diet drinks make no difference to weight and could even cause people to pile on the pounds, a study claims.
A paper compiled by scientists from Imperial College London and two universities in Brazil states that there is no proof that diet drinks are healthier or help in weight loss.
Researchers also argued that artificially-sweetened beverages should not be promoted as part of a healthy diet, as they may be a risk factor for chronic diseases.
Although artificially-sweetened beverages contain fewer calories than sugary versions, researchers say they still trigger sweet receptors in the brain, which may make people crave food. Coupled with the fact that most people view diet drinks as healthier, it could lead to over-consumption, the experts argue.
