Fizzy drinks make you gain extra weight

Looking to shed those extra kilos? If so, stop drinking soda or diet drinks that may cause people to pile on the pounds rather than lose weight, a study have showed.

According to researchers, many people turn to carbonated spring water and low-calorie fizzy pop, believing these to be a healthy alternative to sugary drinks or alcohol.

However, researchers led by the Palestinian Birzeit University revealed that the aerated drinks actually cause people to feel empty. This may further lead to over eating and thus aid in increasing their weight. This may be due to the carbon dioxide, that triggers a hunger hormone called ghrelin, said researchers.

For the study, the team looked at the effect in rats and found those given flat sugary drinks alongside their normal diet put on no more weight than those given still water.

But those who were given fizzy drinks, including zero calorie versions containing artificial sweeteners, put on weight, significantly more than those given flat drinks and after a year, they also showed signs of chronic obesity, with fat building up around their vital organs, the researchers noted.

In addition, the levels of ghrelin were also found to be significantly higher in rats after ingesting a carbonated drink. A similar spike in ghrelin levels was found among humans who had sparkling water, the researchers noted.