Increased Appetite Linked to Use of Zero-Calorie Sweeteners According to Recent Research
Researchers at USC's Keck School of Medicine have found that the artificial sweetener sucralose may impact brain activity related to appetite regulation in children and teens, particularly those at risk for obesity.
The study, which had 75 participants involved, aimed to understand how calorie-free sweeteners affect the body and the brain. Each participant completed three trials: one with sucralose, one with sugar, and one with water. Before and after each trial, the researchers conducted brain scans and took blood samples.
The findings suggest that sucralose alters activity in the hypothalamus—the brain region controlling hunger and satiety—potentially increasing physiological hunger signals and disrupting appetite control. This neural stimulation of appetite-related neurons, including those responsive to leptin (an appetite hormone), may raise the hunger threshold, prompting greater calorie consumption over time.
Compared to regular sugar, sucralose increased activity in the hypothalamus, leading to participants feeling more hungry. However, drinking sucralose did not have the effect of telling the brain that calories have been consumed, as traditional sugar increased insulin and GLP-1, hormones that regulate blood sugar.
The study also aimed to determine if the effects differ from one person to the next. Women and people with obesity were the most impacted by these outcomes.
Epidemiological evidence links frequent artificial sweetener intake—including sucralose—with increased body fat accumulation and obesity risk that appears independent of total calorie intake. A long-term 20-year study reported nearly 70% higher obesity incidence in people regularly consuming large amounts of sweeteners versus minimal consumers.
Furthermore, in children and teens, sucralose consumption correlates with a higher likelihood of central precocious puberty, particularly in boys, and alongside other sweeteners, in girls. This suggests broader developmental impacts beyond appetite and metabolism.
The brain is vulnerable during the developmental stages of children and teens, making it a critical opportunity to intervene. The researchers plan to do more work on how sucralose affects children and teens, particularly those at risk for obesity.
In summary, current research indicates that sucralose may increase appetite and alter brain activity related to hunger regulation in children and teens, contributing to obesity risk and potentially affecting developmental timing in this population. This evidence is significant for families, healthcare providers, and public health guidelines aimed at managing sweetener intake in youths at risk for obesity.
References
- EEG-Based Analysis of Neural Responses to Sweeteners (PMC, 2025) [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12294438/]
- Instagram post reporting brain scans showing increased hypothalamus activity with sucralose (2025-07-10) [https://www.instagram.com/p/DL7PPcyyVic/]
- HealthyFood summary of studies on artificial sweeteners' impact on hunger and obesity (2025-07-09) [https://www.healthyfood.com/advice/are-artificial-sweeteners-okay-for-our-health-heres-what-the-current-evidence-says/]
- ScienceDaily report on sweeteners linked to early puberty in children and teens (2025-07-15) [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250714052231.htm]
- Instagram reel discussing sucralose’s alteration of hypothalamic brain activity and appetite (2025-07-12) [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMACHHsOYGB/]
- The participants also completed questionnaires on their hunger levels before and after the experiments.
- Drinking sucralose had no impact on hormones that regulate blood sugar.
- The study on artificial sweetener sucralose reveals that it may influence health-and-wellness by increasing appetite and altering brain activity related to hunger regulation, particularly in children and teens, which could contribute to an elevated risk of obesity, mental-health issues, and developmental delays.
- Furthermore, the research suggests that the neural stimulation of appetite-related neurons, including those responsive to leptin, a key appetite hormone, may raise the hunger threshold, prompting greater calorie consumption over time and impacting nutrition and fitness-and-exercise patterns.
