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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."

My Essay



In this argument, the author claims a few things about weight loss. The author claims that sugar intake rather than aspartame intake will contribute to ones weight loss. The product Aspartame could actually contribute to weight gain rather than weight loss. In addition, aspartame triggers food craving by depleting a chemical (satiety) that registers a sense of being full. Those who consume sugar after exercising for 45 minutes can actually burn fat than those who consume aspartame juices. Consequently, the author concludes the argument by favoring sugar consumption for weight loss rather than aspartame consumption. Stated in this way, the argument relies on several assumptions for which there’s no clear evidence. Therefore, the is argument is weak, unconvincing and has several flaws



To begin with, no statistical data was given on the number of people who used sugar rather than aspartame. Were more people used to conduct the aspartame test than the sugar test? We are not given that information. In addition, were more overweight people used to conduct the aspartame test and less people or the same number of people were used to conduct the sugar test but with average weights.


Second, what if the everyone in the community is not overweight and who watches their food intake rather than their sugar or aspartame intake. These individuals would rather watch the portion of food intake-such as salads, more fiber, and less carbs - than sugar intake.


Third, the author states the aspartame is the only food trigger. Could there be no other food trigger? How about after a long soccer practice or a game that food intake becomes necessary for the body to continue functioning. As always extra curricular sport activities triggers food consumption in all of us that participate in sports.


Finally, the author did not state what levels of aspartame intake contributes to food craving. Could it be one, two or three tea spoons? The author did not provided further information on the levels of aspartame or sugar intake.


In closing, the author’s argument is flawed and unconvincing. The argument could have been strengthened if statistical data was provided on the number of people who used sugar and aspartame. Furthermore, the author did not take into consideration food consumption rather the author only concentrated on sugar or aspartame intake. Finally, the author did not say what levels of aspartame contributed to weight gain. With this information an individual would make better healthy conscious decisions.