Diet sodas are eagerly consumed by many weight conscious men and women who think they are “healthy alternatives” to sugar saturated sodas. "They may be free of calories but not of consequences," says Helen P. Hazuda, Ph.D., professor in the University of Texas School of Medicine in San Antonio, Texas.

Her proof comes from the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging. It shows that diet soft drink consumption is associated with increased waist circumference in humans. The 474 participants, ages 65-74 were tracked for 10 years. The height, weight, waist circumference and diet soda intake were recorded.