Artificial sweeteners: why they can make you put on weight

Scientists have discovered that the artificial sweeteners cause a disassociation in the brain between energy and sweetness, and disrupt its ability to accurately assess the calories we’re consuming.

Researchers found that sugar can stimulate the areas of the brain related to expectation and satisfaction, so switching off the desire for more sweetness. Using brain imaging, they discovered that artificial sweeteners were not activating the same neural pathways. The study was published in February's journal Neuroimage.

Steve - in 1987 around 70 million Americans were taking artificial sweeteners, and this grew to 160 million by 2000. Over the same period, obesity levels rose from 15 per cent to 30 per cent. Interesting theory.