In its latest health guideline, the WHO suggested that sugar substitutes do not help to reduce weight. By India Today Health Desk: It is a known fact that sugar, refined sugar or white sugar, in particular, is among the most harmful substances for the body. It is associated with various lifestyle diseases including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. When it comes to losing weight, the first change a person does is try to eliminate sugar and soon, reach for non-sugar sweeteners or sugar substitutes like stevia to control their body weight. However, in its latest health guideline, the World Health Organisation suggested that these sugar substitutes do not help in weight loss. WHO, in fact, recommended against the use of NSS to control body weight or reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests the use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults and children. Common NSS includes acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives. Besides, the review also suggested that there could be potential undesirable long-term effects from the use of NSS, such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mortality in adults. The recommendation applies to all people except to those who have pre-existing diabetes and includes all synthetic naturally occurring or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars found in manufactured foods and beverages, or sold on their own to be added to foods and beverages by consumers. "People need to consider other ways to reduce free sugars intake, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages," said Francesco Branca, WHO Director for Nutrition and Food Safety. NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value, added Francesco Branca. "People should reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether, starting early in life, to improve their health," the expert said. This new guidelines by the WHO doesn't apply to other personal care and hygiene products containing NSS, like toothpaste, skin cream and medications, or to low-calorie sugars and sugar alcohols (polyols), which are sugars or sugar derivatives containing calories and are therefore not considered NSS.