Sweet escape? Not really - a study found that while artificial sweeteners can help cut calories and shed excess weight, they can increase the risk for type 2 diabetes.

Researchers from the Faculty of Health at York University studied the data of 2,856 American adults enrolled in the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES III).

During the study period, the participants provided dietary reports that included everything they consumed in the past 24 hours.

The participants were divided into two groups. One group consumed artificial sweeteners (saccharin and/or aspartame) while the other consumed natural sugars (fructose or sugar). The two groups' risk for developing diabetes was also measured.

"Our study shows that individuals with obesity who consume artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame, may have worse glucose management than those who don't take sugar substitutes," said Professor Jennifer Kuk, an obesity researcher at the university's School of Kinesiology and Health Science.

The researchers did not find the same link among participants who consumed natural sugars or saccharin. However, Kuk added that further research is needed to see if the artificial sweeteners' negative effects can offset the benefits people can get from weight loss or lower obesity rates.

Artificial sweeteners are widely used to help obese people cut down on calories since the body cannot digest them. However, the new findings suggested that gut bacteria is able to break down these sugar substitutes after all and can even result in negative health issues.

This isn't the first time artificial sweeteners' benefits were scrutinized. A 2008 study from Purdue University linked artificial sweeteners with increased weight gain in rats.

In the rat study, the ones that consumed yogurt with zero-calorie saccharin eventually gained more weight and fat and consumed more calories.

In the same year, another research from Duke University found that Splenda, a brand of artificial sweetener, weakens the good intestinal bacteria and even contributes to obesity. The Duke research also found that Splenda can potentially affect drug absorption.

And just last year, beverage giant PepsiCo announced the removal of aspartame as their response to findings that the high intake of the sugar substitute can lead to more sugar cravings.

The recent findings were published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism on May 24.

Photo: Steve Snodgrass | Flickr