Could Drinking Diet Soda Make you Eat more than Regular?

Of course we feel better when we have a diet coke with a Big Mac. It's just plain science. Unfortunately, the reality is that drinking diet beverages may actually cause some to eat more than drinking sweetened ones.

According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, a survey of 24,000 showed that those who were obese or overweight consumed the same amounts of calories daily regardless of the beverages they drank.

The participants who were obese and chose to drink diet beverages consumed an average caloric intake of 2,058 calories while obese people who drank regular drinks took in around 1,897 calories per day.  

Study authors believe that individual's drink choices may directly influence their metabolism and the choices they make when it comes to food. In theory, they believe that people may end up eating more because they think they're saving calories by choosing diet drinks.

"The push to diet soda may not make a lot of sense if you are then also eating more solid food," said lead study author Sarah Bleich of the university, via Reuters. "The switch from a sugary beverage to a diet beverage should be coupled with other changes in the diet, particularly reducing snacks."

However, though the study shows interesting results, there are still many unanswered questions regarding possible links to food consumption and drink choice.

"People need to separate the biology from the psychology," said Duke University and Sanford School of Public Policy dean, Kelly Brownell. She stresses the limiting information regarding how artificial sweeteners can affect ones diet.

More information regarding the study can be found via the American Journal of Public Health.