Diet Sodas May Lead To Weight Gain, Heart Problems, Study Suggests

Those who swear they are being healthy because they're drinking a diet soda may be in for a rude awakening.

A study by Purdue University found that diet sodas may be linked to a number of health complications including diabetes, obesity and heart disease, just like regular soda, according to USA Today.

The study found that people who drank artificially sweetened beverages, like diet sodas, were more likely to gain weight than those who drank non-diet soda. It also found that those who drank diet soda had double the chance of developing metabolic syndrome, which can lead to cardiovascular disease, than those who did not, according to USA Today.

"Are diet sodas worse for you than regular sodas? I think that's the wrong question," Susie Swithers, a researcher who compiled the report by looking at different studies about diet soda consumption, told USA Today. "It's, 'What good are sodas for you in the first place?' "

Despite this research, consumption of diet soda has skyrocketed in recent years. The American Beverage Association told USA Today that they see the findings as an "opinion."

"This is an opinion piece not a scientific study," the organization said in an emailed statement. "Low-calorie sweeteners are some of the most studied and reviewed ingredients in the food supply today. They are a safe and an effective tool in weight loss and weight management, according to decades of scientific research and regulatory agencies around the globe."