It seems like such a small decision.

You’re pregnant—or maybe planning to be—and you’re trying to do everything right. Eat better. Cut back on sugar. Make smarter choices. So instead of a sugary drink, you reach for something “healthier.” A diet soda. A zero-sugar collagen shake. Something sweet… but without the calories.

It feels like a win.

But what if that swap—the one that feels responsible—comes with consequences no one warned you about?

This latest study, “Consumption of artificial sweeteners during pregnancy and the risk of overweight in the offspring”  suggests exactly that. And the findings are hard to brush aside.

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What the researchers uncovered

The study followed mothers and their children over time, focusing on one simple variable: the intake of artificially sweetened beverages during pregnancy.

What they found was confronting.

Women who regularly consumed these drinks were more likely to have children who became overweight. This wasn’t a weak or incidental link—it held even after adjusting for other lifestyle factors. Diet. Body weight. General health habits. The signal remained.

Even more unsettling is when the effect appeared. Early in childhood.

That detail matters, because it points away from learned behaviour and toward something more fundamental. Something happening during development. Before habits are formed. Before food choices even come into play.

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But how can something with “zero sugar” cause this?

That’s the question most people ask. And it’s a fair one.

Artificial sweeteners don’t add calories, but they’re far from inert. The body still reacts to them—and not always in ways we fully understand.

Some research suggests they can alter the gut microbiome, the vast network of bacteria that helps regulate metabolism. Others indicate they may interfere with how the brain processes sweetness, potentially increasing cravings and disrupting appetite signals over time. There’s also evidence that certain sweeteners can trigger insulin responses, even in the absence of sugar.

Now place those effects in the context of pregnancy, when a baby’s metabolic system is developing and adapting in real time.

Suddenly, the idea that these compounds could have long-term consequences doesn’t feel so far-fetched.

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This study isn’t alone

If this were a one-off finding, it would be easier to dismiss. But it isn’t.

A well-known study published in Nature showed that artificial sweeteners could actually induce glucose intolerance by altering gut bacteria. That’s a direct pathway to metabolic dysfunction.

Research in JAMA Pediatrics found that mothers who consumed diet beverages during pregnancy were more likely to have infants with higher body mass index.

And the World Health Organization has issued guidance advising against the use of non-sugar sweeteners for weight control, citing concerns about long-term health effects.

Taken together, the message is becoming clearer.

Artificial sweeteners may not be the harmless alternative they were once made out to be.

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The problem hiding in “health” products

This is where things take an uncomfortable turn.

Because artificial sweeteners aren’t just in diet soft drinks anymore. They’ve quietly made their way into a huge range of products marketed as healthy—especially in the supplement space.

Collagen supplements are a prime example.

On the surface, they look like a wellness product. And in many ways, collagen itself is. But to make these powders and drinks taste appealing—sometimes like chocolate, vanilla, or even dessert flavours—manufacturers often rely on artificial sweeteners like sucralose, stevia,  Erythritol (E 968), or acesulfame potassium.

The result?

A product positioned as clean and beneficial… that contains ingredients increasingly linked to metabolic disruption.

It’s a contradiction that’s hard to ignore.

Particularly when these products are marketed to people actively trying to improve their health—and in some cases, to women during pregnancy.

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Not all collagen is created equal

It’s important to draw a clear line here.

Collagen, in its pure form, is simply a protein. There’s nothing inherently problematic about it. (See this article Can You Take Collagen When Pregnant?)

The issue is what gets added.

Many products on the market are built around taste and convenience, not purity. That often means flavour systems, sweeteners, and additives that turn a simple ingredient into something far more complex.

CollagenX takes a different approach. No artificial sweeteners. No chemical additives. Just hydrolysed collagen.

That’s not a marketing gimmick—it’s a deliberate choice to avoid the very ingredients now being questioned in the scientific literature.

And while it may not deliver the same sweet hit as flavoured alternatives, it also doesn’t carry the same uncertainties.

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What this means for you

If you’re pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or simply trying to make better health decisions, this isn’t about alarmism.

It’s about awareness.

Artificial sweeteners have been marketed for years as the smarter choice. The safer option. The way to enjoy sweetness without consequences.

But the research is starting to challenge that narrative.

And when it comes to pregnancy—when small inputs can have long-term effects—it makes sense to take a more cautious approach.

Read labels. Question “sugar-free” claims. Be mindful of what’s added, not just what’s removed.

Because sometimes, the things we’re told are better for us… aren’t quite what they seem.

For more information on the list of artificial sweeteners of concern, read our article 'Is Your Collagen Safe? Unveiling Hidden Dangers in "Healthy" Products'