New findings from Dr. Kathleen Page’s lab featured in Newsweek and published in Nature Metabolism.

A new study led by Dr. Kathleen Page, director of the BRANCH Lab and the Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute (DORI) at USC, has revealed that calorie-free sweeteners like sucralose may have unexpected effects on hunger and brain signaling, particularly in women and individuals with obesity.

Published in Nature Metabolism, the study used fMRI imaging to examine how the brain responds to sucralose compared to sugar or water. The research team found that after consuming sucralose, participants—especially women and those with obesity—showed increased activity in brain regions linked to appetite and food reward. These same participants also ate more at a subsequent buffet meal, despite the absence of calories in the sweetened drink.

“Our findings suggest that not all calorie-free sweeteners are metabolically inert,” said Dr. Page. “Sucralose may increase hunger and food intake in ways that could undermine weight management efforts, particularly for those already at higher risk for obesity and metabolic disease.”

These results raise important questions about the widespread use of non-nutritive sweeteners and their role in diet and disease prevention. The study is a major step in understanding how artificial sweeteners influence brain pathways that regulate appetite and eating behavior.

Read the full article in Newsweek: Link to article

Explore more research from the BRANCH Lab: https://drkatiepage.com/