Artificial sweeteners may have the opposite effect on people’s weight than they had hoped.

The FDA has approved five artificial sweeteners, which are now put into thousands of foods and drinks. Although they’re most often found in sodas, people often encounter these sweeteners in processed foods too.

On one hand, artificial sweeteners might make sense to people trying to lose weight. After all, cutting out foods and drinks containing sugar and high fructose corn syrup can really slash your daily calorie count.

But experts warn that low calorie sweeteners may not be a good alternative for weight loss. Several studies suggest that people who use artificial sweeteners may gain more weight over time.

It may be that people who get used to the very sweet taste of these products find that the normal flavor of fruits and vegetables isn’t as appealing. They may also feel hungrier after having foods and drinks containing artificial sweeteners. As a result, people may take in more calories afterward.

And artificial sweeteners may encourage the body to develop new fat cells.

If you’re trying to lose weight, keep in mind this alternative: cut back on foods and drinks flavored with any type of added sweetener. Over time, you may find that you don’t have such a need for sweet flavors.