A new non-sugar sweetener (NSS) guideline was issued on Monday by the World Health Organization (WHO) that advises against using NSS to regulate body weight or lower the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). 

The suggestion is based on a thorough analysis of the existing research, which indicates that using NSS has no long-term effect on body fat reduction in adults or children. The reviews findings also imply that long-term use of NSS may have unintended consequences, such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and death in adults.

WHO Director for Nutrition and Food Safety Francesco Branca stated that in the long run substituting free sugars with NSS does not help with weight control. The new guidelines apply to everyone except people with pre-existing diabetes and include all synthetic and naturally occurring or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars, mostly found in processed food or manufactured foods and beverages or sold separately for consumers to add to foods and beverages. Most common NSS include aspartame, advantame, acesulfame K, neotame, cyclamates, sucralose, stevia, and its derivatives.

The WHO also said that the guidance does not apply to NSS-containing personal care and hygiene products such as toothpaste, skin cream, and medications.

Policy decisions based on this proposal may need extensive debate in specific national settings, such as the degree of consumption in various age groups. The WHO recommendation is part of a suite of existing and upcoming healthy diet guidelines aimed at establishing lifelong healthy eating habits, improving dietary quality, and lowering the risk of NCDs globally.

(Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/healthcare/wellness/dont-use-non-sugar-sweeteners-for-weight-control-advises-who/3088627/)