Beverages containing low energy sweeteners do not differ from water in their effects on appetite, energy intake and food choices in healthy, non-obese French adults

Strategies for reducing the sugar content of beverages and foods are viewed as critical to global public health. Observational studies (Bundrick, Thearle, Venti, Krakoff,& Votruba, 2014; Dubois, Farmer, Girard,& Peterson, 2007; Liebman et al., 2003; Schulze et al., 2004; Troiano, Briefel, Carroll, & Bialostosky, 2000), intervention trials (Chen et al., 2009; Tordoff & Alleva, 1990), and systematic reviews and meta-analyses (Malik, Schulze, & Hu, 2006; Vartanian, Schwartz, & Brownell, 2007; Pan & Hu, 2011; Te Morenga, Mallard, & Mann, 2012) have all linked excessive sugar consumption to higher energy intakes and to weight gain. The World Health Organization has recommended reducing the percentage of daily energy from free sugars to 10% (“strong recommendation”), or even