WHO Recommends Against the Use of Non-Sugar Sweeteners for Weight Control and Disease Prevention

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently issued new guidelines regarding the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) to control body weight and reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Based on a comprehensive systematic review of the available evidence, the guideline recommends against the use of NSS for these purposes.

The systematic review revealed that non-sugar sweeteners do not provide any long-term benefits in reducing body fat in both adults and children. Furthermore, it suggests that prolonged use of NSS may lead to undesirable effects, including an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality among adults.

Francesco Branca, the WHO Director for Nutrition and Food Safety, emphasizes the need to consider alternative methods of reducing sugar intake. He states, "Replacing free sugars with NSS does not help with weight control in the long term. People need to consider other ways to reduce free sugars intakes, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages. NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value. People should reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether, starting early in life, to improve their health."

The guideline applies to the general population, excluding individuals with pre-existing diabetes. It encompasses all synthetic and naturally occurring or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars found in manufactured foods and beverages or sold separately for consumer use. Common examples of NSS include acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, and stevia derivatives.

The WHO guideline on NSS is part of a comprehensive set of existing and upcoming guidelines on healthy diets. The goal is to establish lifelong healthy eating habits, improve dietary quality, and decrease the global burden of non-communicable diseases. Individuals are encouraged to adopt healthier dietary practices by reducing overall sugar intake and choosing natural sources of sweetness, such as fruits, or unsweetened food and beverages.

Reference:

Rios-Leyvraz M, Montez J. Health effects of the use of non-sugar sweeteners: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.