Daily Eating Frequency in US Adults: Associations with Low-Calorie Sweeteners, Body Mass Index, and Nutrient Intake (NHANES 2007–2016)

Abstract

Studies of relationships between eating frequency and/or timing and energy intake have not examined associations with low-calorie sweeteners (LCS). We assessed the frequency of eating behavior related to LCS consumption emphasizing timing, calorie intake, and body mass index (BMI) among United States (US) adults aged ≥19 years. Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2016, we defined eating episodes as food and/or beverage intake within 15 min of one another over the first 24-h dietary recall. We coded items ingested during episodes (n = 136,938) and assessed LCS presence using US Department of Agriculture (USDA) food files. Episode analysis found intakes of foods only (27.4%), beverages only (29.5%), and foods with beverages (43.0%). LCS items were consumed without concurrent calories from other sources in fewer than 2.7% of all episodes. Within participants having normal weight (29.4%), overweight (33.6%) and obese (37.1%) BMIs, LCS consumers (35.2% overall) evidenced: more episodes/day; and fewer: calories, carbohydrates, fats, and protein per episode. Per person, those consuming LCS had lower total calories and higher fiber intake per day. LCS consumption was associated with higher BMI. Number of eating episodes/day and longer hours when eating episodes occurred were also consistently associated with higher BMI. Consuming LCS did not modify these relationships. These results did not show that LCS consumption was associated with increased caloric intake from other dietary sources.

Effects of Saccharin Consumption on Operant Responding for Sugar Reward and Incubation of Sugar Craving in Rats

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Low- and No-Calorie Sweetener (LNCS) Presence and Consumption among the Portuguese Adult Population

“…Nonetheless, reformulation may not entail a significant reduction in energy in food and beverages, and it might even have the opposite effect to that desired; foods reformulated with sweeteners tend to be perceived as "healthier", so there is a tendency to consume them in excess [5]. In addition, there is some scientific evidence in animals [19] that excessive consumption of LNCS may lower the satiety threshold and alter glucose homeostasis mechanisms, with possible links to the development of metabolic syndrome and obesity [20]. However, there is a lack of evidence for this hypothesis in humans.…”

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