The Effects of Beverages on Food Liking

The use of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) in replacement of nutritive sweeteners (NS) could be a potential weight loss strategy as it may reduce energy intake. One concern with the replacement of NS with NNS is the risk of caloric compensation after consumption of NNS. Most studies have examined the effect of NNS foods and beverages on energy intake in the short-term (one-day or less), with results suggesting lack of compensation in the very short-term (less than one day), and then compensation, or over compensation, when the NNS products are consumed on one day with measures of energy intake taken over 1 to 2 days (Anton et al., 2010; Lavin et al., 1997; Overduin et al., 2016; Appleton et al., 2007; Piernas et al., 2013). Given these mixed results, it is still not clear if NNS foods and beverages are a beneficial strategy for decreasing energy intake. However most studies have been in lab-based settings, in which participants are consuming provided food at specific times. No study has reported on the effect of NNS foods or beverages consumed over several days and energy intake on these days when participants are in free-living situations. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to evaluate how NNS beverage consumption affects energy intake in free-living situations over a span of three days. Through a 3x4 mixed design, participants will be randomized into one of three groups: NNS beverage, NS beverage, or carbonated water (control). Participants will be encouraged to go about their normal daily activities and not change any other aspect except for drink consumption. One baseline and three, 24-hour dietary recalls will be collected over the course of the study to analyze energy intake. The specific aim of this investigation is to determine if caloric compensation occurs during 3-day exposure to NNS beverages.