For a longer look at the effects of artificial sweetener use, the experts turned to prospective cohort studies, which tracked health outcomes for at least two years to more than 30 years. Collectively, these studies found higher use of artificial sweeteners was linked to higher BMIs and a 76 percent higher incidence of obesity. Regarding Type 2 diabetes, people had a 23 percent higher risk if they consumed the sweeteners in beverages and a 34 percent higher risk if they had a packaged version of artificial sweeteners that they added to foods and beverages. People with higher use of sweeteners also had a 32 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke (19 percent higher risk) and hypertension (13 percent higher risk).
Last, higher intakes of artificial sweeteners were linked to a 10 percent increased risk of death from any cause and a 19 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular diseases (but there was no increased risk associated with deaths from cancers).

Diet sodas are not actually good for your diet, WHO guidance suggests