Congratulations to the SWEET project team on publication of an important news study’Effect of sweeteners and sweetness enhancers on weight management and gut microbiota composition in individuals with overweight or obesity: the SWEET study' in Nature Metabolism.
This research, based on a multi centre randomised control trial, looked at the use of sweeteners and sweetness enhancers (S&SE) instead of sugar can help people with weight maintenance following weight loss – and how this might affect gut health.
More than 340 adults and 38 children with overweight or obesity first followed a low-calorie diet for two months and lost at least 5% of their weight. They then switched to a healthy diet for ten months, with one group using foods and drinks containing sweeteners and the other group continuing to eat products with sugar.
After one year, adults who used sweeteners kept off more weight than those who continued eating sugar. They also showed positive changes in their gut bacteria, which may support overall health. No major differences were seen in heart health measures or among children.
The results suggest that using sweeteners instead of sugar can be a safe and helpful way for adults to maintain weight loss as part of a healthy diet.
Read the full publication:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-025-01381-z
Read the review by Ted Kyle from ConscienHealth and commentary from Sarah Schmitz and Louis Aronne
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-025-01382-y