Artificial sweetener use among individuals with eating disorders

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 341 - 345
• Main Authors: Klein, D.A, Boudreau, G.S, Devlin, M.J, Walsh, B.T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.05.2006; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Analysis of Variance; Anorexia nervosa; Anorexia Nervosa - psychology; artificial sweetener; Artificial sweeteners; beverages; binge eating disorder; binging; Biological and medical sciences; body image; Body Mass Index; Bulimia; bulimia nervosa; Bulimia Nervosa - psychology; Candy; Case-Control Studies; chewing gum; diet beverages; Eating behavior disorders; Eating disorders; Feeding Behavior - psychology; Female; food choices; food frequency questionnaires; gaining weight; Humans; low calorie diet; Medical sciences; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; purging (food); Soft drinks; Sweetening Agents; Women; bulimia nervosa; Anorexia nervosa; Chewing; eating disorders; Eating disorder; Feeding; Bulimia; diet beverages; Diet; Sweetener; artificial sweetener; chewing gum; Beverage
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.20260

Women with eating disorders report using large quantities of artificially sweetened products, but this has not been quantified. Objective: The authors assessed the use of selected artificially sweetened low-calorie products among women with eating disorders compared with controls. Method: Thirty women with anorexia nervosa (18 with the restricting subtype AN-R and 12 with the binge/purge subtype AN-B/P), 48 women with bulimia nervosa (BN), and 32 healthy control women completed a survey of frequency and amount of consumption of chewing gum, artificially sweetened low-calorie beverages, and packets of artificial sweetener in the previous month. Results: A greater proportion of women with AN-B/P and BN reported use of each product, compared with women with AN-R and control participants. Among product users, patients with eating disorders reported using greater amounts than controls. Among patients who reported binge eating and/or purging, the quantity of each product used was inversely correlated with body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: These data suggest an increased drive for sweet orosensory stimulation in women with AN and BN.