Artificially sweetened beverages and the response to the global obesity crisis
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In March 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) published revised guidelines on
sugar intake that call on national governments to institute policies to reduce sugar
intake and increase the scope for regulation of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).
• In face of the growing threat of regulatory action on SSBs, transnational beverage companies
are responding in multiple ways, including investing in the formulation and sales
of artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs), promoted as healthier alternatives to SSBs.
• The absence of consistent evidence to support the role of ASBs in preventing weight
gain and the lack of studies on other long-term effects on health strengthen the position
that ASBs should not be promoted as part of a healthy diet.
• The promotion of ASBs must be discussed in a broader context of the additional potential
impacts on health and the environment. In addition, a more robust evidence base,
free of conflicts of interest, is needed.
sugar intake that call on national governments to institute policies to reduce sugar
intake and increase the scope for regulation of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).
• In face of the growing threat of regulatory action on SSBs, transnational beverage companies
are responding in multiple ways, including investing in the formulation and sales
of artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs), promoted as healthier alternatives to SSBs.
• The absence of consistent evidence to support the role of ASBs in preventing weight
gain and the lack of studies on other long-term effects on health strengthen the position
that ASBs should not be promoted as part of a healthy diet.
• The promotion of ASBs must be discussed in a broader context of the additional potential
impacts on health and the environment. In addition, a more robust evidence base,
free of conflicts of interest, is needed.
Date Issued
2017-01-03
Date Acceptance
2017-01-01
Citation
Plos Medicine, 2017, 14 (1)
ISSN
1549-1676
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Journal / Book Title
Plos Medicine
Volume
14
Issue
1
License URL
Identifier
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28045913
PII: PMEDICINE-D-16-01956
Subjects
General & Internal Medicine
11 Medical And Health Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Article Number
e1002195