While increased exercise and greater eating control were associated with higher weight loss in both groups, among women in the aspartame group, another predictor of higher weight loss was increased aspartame intake. The most important finding, however, was that after three years the aspartame group maintained a net weight loss of more than five percent of their body weight, while the control group on average gained all their weight back. Assignment to the aspartame treatment group, along with increased exercise and improved control over eating, were major predictors of initial weight loss as well as maintenance. Medically significant weight loss is defined as a 10 percent reduction in body weight. According to Blackburn, reduced-calorie foods are useful in weight management because most diets are overly restrictive and exclude certain foods.
Studies show humans are born with a natural craving for sweet tastes.
Denying this predilection can lead some persons to eventually give up weight management efforts. In our study, those people told to abstain from aspartame were not able to keep off weight that they had previously lost. In fact, the study found that an increase in aspartame consumption was associated with a decrease in cravings for sweets. Researchers are careful to point out that it takes a multi-disciplinary program, including exercise and eating a more nutritious diet, to successfully lose weight. However, when aspartame-sweetened products are included in such a plan, maintenance of weight loss seems to be easier.