The World Health Organization said Monday it is advising people not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control, warning that they may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mortality in adults. The agency said a systematic review of the available evidence suggests non-sugar sweeteners do not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children. “NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value,” said Francesco Branca, WHO director for nutrition and food safety, in a statement. “People should reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether, starting early in life, to improve their health.” The new guidance applies to all people and includes all synthetic, naturally occurring or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars, including acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives, said the statement.
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