If you were told to ingest a biologically alien synthetic chemical whose presence on this planet did not predate 1976, and whose structure is only a few atoms away from the deadly pesticide DDT, and you knew that not only were there no long term human safety studies performed on it, but that it had been already proven in tests to have over a dozen serious adverse health effects, would you consume it?
So, you are looking to lose a few pounds, or keep them off. What better way to accomplish this feat than to eliminate both empty sugar calories and synthetic sweeteners, which studies show can generate excessive cravings for sweets and actually increase weight gain.