In the context of the 17th International Congress of Dietetics in September 2016, Dr John Sievenpiper has given an insightful interview about the epidemic of obesity and its causes, the sweet taste in our diet, as well as the role of low calorie sweeteners in obesity prevention and management. Based on the latest scientific data, Dr Sievenpiper provides evidence-based answers to the question why low calorie sweeteners can be one more tool in the effort to reduce energy intake and manage energy balance and subsequently body weight.