Do Artificial Sweeteners Increase Hunger?

Artificial sweeteners have been an increasingly popular diet aid over the past few decades, but recent studies suggest that consuming “fake sugars” may cause an increase in hunger. Now, a study co-led by the University of Sydney has revealed the potential mechanism behind artificial sweeteners and appetite stimulation in the brain.

The artificial sweetener studied, sucralose, is one of the most commonly used on the market—found in products such as Splenda, diet sodas and other low-calorie foods. When sucralose was fed to fruit flies and lab mice for more than a week, researchers noticed that they began eating more calories when given naturally sweetened foods afterwards—specifically, 30 percent more for the fruit flies.

The mechanism was found in the brain’s reward center; the artificial sweetener was tricking the brain into starvation mode. The chronic consumption of sucralose increased the sweetness of naturally-sweetened foods, such as fruit. This, in turn, led the brain to think it needed to consume more food because it was not consuming enough calories from the artificially sweetened foods. The researchers also noticed that the fruit flies experienced an increase in hyperactivity and insomnia as well as decreased sleep quality.

Bottom line: This study revealed yet another “red flag” involving artificial sweeteners. Although they may prove to be an effective short-term fix for sweet cravings, be cautious about using them over longer periods of time. What you think may be helping you reduce your sugar intake may be causing you to crave more calories the next time you eat naturally-sweetened foods. For now, try reducing sugar intake gradually and over time your body’s cravings will adapt.

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