Can replacing sugary beverages with ‘healthy’ alternatives help you lose weight? Stanford-trained longevity expert says: ‘Why you switch…’

Is switching to sugar-sweetened beverages to ‘healthier’ options worth the cost when it comes to weight loss? Taking to Instagram, Stanford-educated longevity expert Peter Attia explained the truth. Dr Attia explained that randomnised controlled trials results have supported the theory that artificial sweetened beverages have neutral to slightly positive benefits for body weight in comparison to sugar-sweetened beverages.

However, evidence from animal and epidemiological studies have shown that artificial sweeteners led to greater weight gain than consumption of real sugar. Attia argued that the intent behind consumption affects the dietary decisions we take throughout the day. For example, if you are drinking sweet beverages to satiate that sweet cravings, you will probably end up replacing calories with other sources of sugar even if you opt for low-calorie alternatives.

But he also maintained that people don’t always drink sweet beverages out of a desire for more sweet things. Many people drink soft drinks simply because they are thirsty or they love caffeine. In such cases swapping sugar for healthier alternatives is not likely to create a strong drive to seek sugary substances from other sources and the switch can be conducive to weight loss.


In short, when it comes to managing body weight, the specific replacement chosen for sugary drinks may be just as important—if not more important—than simply eliminating them. While switching away from sugar-sweetened beverages can reduce calorie and sugar intake, the overall impact on weight depends on what takes their place.

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Who Is Peter Attia?

A renowned longevity expert, Peter Attia is a Canadian researcher and lifestyle influencer. A graduate of the Stanford School Of Medicine, he trained for five years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in general surgery. He is the host of the immensely popular health and medicine-focused podcast The Peter Attia Drive. He is also the author of the popular book , Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity. The book earned number one position on the New York Times best-seller list.