Researchers at the University of Southern California analyzed brain scans and found that a popular sugar substitute, once thought to help cut calories, might instead be nudging people to eat more.

White sugar, brown sugar, demerara, maple syrup, sorghum - the list of sugar products goes ... Read More: The Best Brown ...

The sugar substitute might spur on a person’s appetite and feelings of hunger, potentially leading them to overeat, according to results published March 26 in the journal Nature Metabolism.

Compared to sugar, consuming sucralose-a widely used sugar substitute-increases activity in the hypothalamus, a brain region that regulates appetite and body weight, according to a new USC study.