People who are overweight who consume soft drinks containing sugar sugar do indeed gain more weight than those consuming diet drinks, according to a report from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Over a period of ten weeks, a group of six overweight men and 35 overweight women, average age 35, were given supplemental foods and drinks sweetened with either sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Subjects in the sugar group decreased their calorie intake from their regular foods. However, during the course of the study they gained an average of 2.8 pounds of fat mass and .66 pounds of fat-free mass, and their blood pressure rose significantly.

Those who consumed products containing artificial sweeteners decreased the consumption of sugar and carbohydrate from their regular foods and lost an average of 2.2 pounds (.66 pounds of fat mass) and had a small but significant decrease in their blood pressure.

Researchers believe the most likely reason for the difference between the two groups is the large amount of sugar-sweetened beverages consumed. Calories from fluids are less satiating than those consumed from solid foods, causing overconsumption.

The authors concluded that overweight individuals should drink beverages containing artificial sweeteners to prevent weight gain.

Other sources: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition