Consuming diet beverages helps with weight loss, according to a new study. The groundbreaking study was published in Obesity, the journal of The Obesity Society, on May 27, 2014.

Co-author of the study, James O. Hill, Ph.D., executive director of the University of Colorado Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, said in a statement, “This study clearly demonstrates that diet beverages can in fact help people lose weight, directly countering myths in recent years that suggest the opposite effect – weight gain.” He continued, “In fact, those who drank diet beverages lost more weight and reported feeling significantly less hungry than those who drank water alone. This reinforces that if you’re trying to shed pounds, you can enjoy diet beverages.”

The 12-week study, which involved 303 participants, indicated that participants who consumed diet beverage lost an average of 13 pounds. This group lost 44 percent more weight than the control group, which lost nine pounds.

Study co-author John C. Peters, chief strategy officer of the CU Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, said, “There’s so much misinformation about diet beverages that isn’t based on studies designed to test cause and effect, especially on the Internet.” He continued, “This research allows dieters to feel confident that low- and no-calorie sweetened beverages can play an important and helpful role as part of an effective and comprehensive weight loss strategy.”

Obesity continues to be a widespread health problem in the U.S. According to the Food Research and Action Center, over two thirds of adults in the country are overweight or obese.

The study was funded by a grant from the American Beverage Association.