Major trial finds diet drinks as effective as water for weight loss

2026-10-04 · Science

A two-year randomized clinical trial involving 493 adults with overweight or obesity found that diet soft drinks were essentially as effective as water for long-term weight loss and weight maintenance. Participants consuming beverages sweetened with aspartame, acesulfame-K, or sucralose lost similar amounts of weight.

Why it matters：A large trial showing diet drinks as effective as water for weight loss could influence dietary guidelines and consumer choices.

Key points

• The trial lasted two years and included 493 adults with overweight or obesity.
• Participants drank beverages sweetened with aspartame, acesulfame-K, or sucralose.
• Diet soft drinks were essentially as effective as water for weight loss and maintenance.

Sources (original reporting)

• ScienceDaily

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