Chewing sugar free gum significantly suppresses sweet snack cravings and helps curb kilojoule intake, according to new research.

The study, presented at the recent American Society for Nutrition (ASN) Scientific Sessions at Experimental Biology 2009, shows that people who chew gum after a meal significantly reduced their desire to eat sweet snacks compared to those who did not chew. The gum-chewing cohort experienced a reduction in energy intake of 250kJ compared to those who did not chew.

The randomised trial placed 115 men and women volunteers in both gum-chewing and non gum-chewing groups. After consuming a full lunch, subjects in the chewing group chewed gum for 15 minutes hourly for three hours. Results showed that subjects who chewed gum after a meal considerably decreased their kilojoule intake of high-sugar snack foods, compared to those who did not chew.

Sharon Natoli, dietitian and founding director of Food & Nutrition Australia, said the results are positive, particularly for anyone trying to manage their weight.

“While we know that chewing gum can help people manage stress and increase the number of kilojoules they burn, this study also shows that people can reduce their feelings of hunger and reduce cravings for sweet foods, which can further facilitate weight loss efforts,” said Natoli.

Obesity is still a growing concern in many countries. In Australia, more than seven million Australians are overweight or obese. The proportion of Australian men who are obese has almost doubled, and the proportion of obese women has increased from 8 per cent to 20 per cent over the past two decades.

“Even for those not actively trying to lose weight, chewing on sugar free gum can help to prevent weight gain by keeping people’s hunger pangs at bay for longer. This means people are generally less likely to indulge in a high-kilojoule snack and may take in less kilojoules throughout the day,” said Ms Natoli.

“It should be remembered that even small changes in kilojoule intake can have a significant impact in the long term and chewing sugar free gum may play a valuable role in minimising weight gain over time.”