Aspartame AWA
[#permalink]
24 Mar 2015, 20:03
Thought I'd post my first AWA... After reading it again I would only give myself a 4. Thoughts?
The following appeared in the health section of a magazine on trends and lifestyles:
“People who use the artificial sweetener aspartame are better off consuming sugar, since aspartame can actually
contribute to weight gain rather than weight loss. For example, high levels of aspartame have been shown to trigger a
craving for food by depleting the brain of a chemical that registers satiety, or the sense of being full. Furthermore,
studies suggest that sugars, if consumed after at least 45 minutes of continuous exercise, actually enhance the
body’s ability to burn fat. Consequently, those who drink aspartame-sweetened juices after exercise will also lose this
calorie-burning benefit. Thus it appears that people consuming aspartame rather than sugar are unlikely to achieve
their dietary goals.”
Discuss how well reasoned . . . etc.
In the preceding statement, the author claims that people who consume aspartame drinks will likely not achieve their dietary goals. The author bases his/her reasoning on aspartame causing an increased craving for food, and that people who drink aspartame drinks will not be able to benefit from the fat burning ability of drinks that contain sugar. Though the author's claim may have merit, the author presents a poorly reasoned argument and based upon soley the evidence presented by the author, we cannot accept this argument to be valid.
First, the author claims that aspartame has been shown to trigger food cravings for food by depleting the brain of a chemical that registers satiety, or the sense of being full. The argument that food cravings can be linked to dietary goals is not clear and a conclusion cannot be drawn where food cravings is an enabler of lost dietary goals. Furthermore, this claim states no evidence to support it whatsoever. If the author had suggested a credible study with a large sample size that linked aspartame to food cravings, and food cravings to a loss in dietary goals, then the author's claim would be strengthen.
Second, the author suggests that sugars, if consumed after at least 45 minutes of continuous exercise, actaully enhances the body's ability to burn fat. The argument that aspartame cannot be a substitute for sugar in this instance is unfound, and aspartame could very well also cause the body's ability to burn fat to increase. The claim that people who consume aspartame drinks will likely not achieve their dietary goals also relies on the fact that people who drink normal sugar drinks actually exercise at least 45 minutes. If people don't exericse at least 45 minutes, sugar drinks (not aspartame), may actually hamper the calorie burning benefit. If the author had provided evidence that drinking aspartame had no effect (or ill effect) on the body's ability to burn fat, then the authors reasoning could be better accepted.
Third, there is no mention that people may be using aspartame on food, instead of beverages. What would be the effect of aspartame on an individual's dietary goals if they used aspartame on meals instead of drinks? Further, how does the author prove that individuals who have a craving for food will actually consume more food? These individuals might have significant will power to lose weight and in fact resist the temptation to eat more food. The author would have to address the preceeding questions in order to convince the audience of his/her claims.
In summary, the authors illogical argument is based on unsupported premises and unsubstantiated assumptions that render his/her conclusion invalid. If the author had provided more evidence regarding the linkage of aspartame to dietary goals, and the ability of aspartame to the body's ability to burn fat, the conclusion of this statement would be strengthened.