Diet or stevia-sweetened sodas are an effective tool for weight loss by helping to consume fewer calories, sometimes proving more effective than water alone for certain people.

noli's read

Andrew Huberman’s claim that diet sodas are an effective aid for weight management, sometimes even superior to water, is based on solid scientific foundations. Indeed, a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted by Peters et al. (2016) over one year demonstrated that individuals consuming artificially sweetened beverages lost significantly more weight than those drinking only water. More recently, the SWITCH clinical trial (another RCT) conducted by Harrold et al. (2023) confirmed that after 52 weeks, the no-sugar beverage group maintained a slightly higher weight loss (7.5 kg) than the water group (6.1 kg). This effectiveness is mainly explained by the fact that these beverages help satisfy cravings for sweet flavors and reduce overall caloric intake without generating frustration. Although water remains the most natural hydration choice, presenting diet soda as a superior alternative requires nuance, as the difference in weight loss measured in studies remains clinically modest. In short, research validates this approach as a very useful lever to facilitate the transition to reduced caloric intake.

the sources

1. 1World Health Organization 2023
2. 2Miller PE, Perez V 2014
3. 3IARC / JECFA (WHO) 2023