CBC News..."A number of epidemiological studies show that people who do consume high intensity sweeteners show differences in metabolic responses, have an increased risk for things like Type 2 diabetes and also have an increased risk for overweight and obesity."
Writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the researchers said the women's age and body size were taken into account but eating habits may have changed over time and factors besides consumption of artificially sweetened drinks couldn't be ruled out.This week, researchers in France who followed the drinking habits of 66,000 women for 14 years reported that both regular and diet pop increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, but the risk was higher among diet drinkers — 15 per cent higher for consumption of as little as 500 ml per week and 59 per cent higher for those having 1.5 litres per week.
Scientists in the U.S. have also found this association.
More difficult to manage weight
No longer being able to rely on the body's built-in and subconscious process for regulating eating makes it more difficult for people to manage their own weights, Small and Swithers agreed.
"They might actually have to read labels, pay attention to how many calories are in things because they've lost this easy process," Swithers said.