title: The effect of aspartame as part of a multidisciplinary weight-control program on short- and long-term control of body weight.
abstract: This study investigated whether the addition of the high-intensity sweetener aspartame to a multidisciplinary weight-control program would improve weight loss and long-term control of body weight. One hundred sixty-three obese women were randomly assigned to consume or to abstain from aspartame-sweetened foods and beverages during 16 wk of a 19-wk weight-reduction program (active weight loss), a 1-y maintenance program, and a 2-y follow-up period. Women in both treatment groups lost approximately 10% of initial body weight (10 kg) during active weight loss. Among women assigned to the aspartame-treatment group, aspartame intake was positively correlated with percentage weight loss during active weight loss (r = 0.32, P < 0.01). During maintenance and follow-up, participants in the aspartame group experienced a 2.6% (2.6 kg) and 4.6% (4.6 kg) regain of initial body weight after 71 and 175 wk, respectively, whereas those in the no-aspartame group gained an average of 5.4% (5.4 kg) and 9.4% (9.4 kg), respectively. The aspartame group lost significantly more weight overall (P = 0.028) and regained significantly less weight during maintenance and follow-up (P = 0.046) than did the no-aspartame group. Percentage weight losses at 71 and 175 wk were also positively correlated with exercise (r = 0.32, P < 0.001; and r = 0.34, P < 0.01, respectively) and self-reported eating control (r = 0.37, P < 0.001; and r = 0.33, P < 0.01, respectively). These data suggest that participation in a multidisciplinary weight-control program that includes aspartame may facilitate the long-term maintenance of reduced body weight.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Nutrition Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Blackburn
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kanders
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Lavin
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Whatley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001218:Aspartame / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D013549:Sweetening Agents; D001218:Aspartame