Fat rats, fat people?

Let's talk about something that drives me insane.

I just read a blog posting that referenced a recent scientific study on the effects of saccharin on weight. Basically, some medical researchers took a bunch of rats and fed some of them yogurt that had been sweetened with sugar and some of them yogurt that had been sweetened with saccharin. The rats eating the sugar-yogurt apparently learned that a sugary taste is associated with caloric intake, and when presented with other sweet foods would moderate their intake according. The rats that ate the saccharin-yogurt, on the other hand, never developed this knowledge and would eat sweet food with abandon, not expecting them to be caloric.

Now, ever so logically, they are applying this to humans.

Rats are rodents. I'd imagine that they aren't particularly known for their capability for rational thought and decision-making. They are primarily governed by instinct. You and I, on the other hand, should be well aware that sweet foods do in fact contain calories irrelevant of our level of consumption of artificial sweeteners. If this wasn't a forgone conclusion, assuming that we exhibit some common sense, there is also the fact that virtually everything we eat features a nutrition label. So don't go trying to tell me that the fact that I average 36 ounces of Fresca per day is resulting in a propensity to underestimate the caloric content of those tasty new Dark Chocolate Peanut M&Ms. I'm not saying I never overdo it, but when I do I am very conscious of it.

Personally, my belief is that if these studies have any relevant correlation in people, it is only in very, very stupid people.

You know, the ones who are only morbidly obese because they have glandular problems or are genetically predisposed.

Meanwhile, I'll keep drinking my Coke Zero and limiting my intake of fattening, high-calorie foods and see if that doesn't keep me in my skinny jeans...