I'd call this "con" science promoted by scientists without a conscience. The major culprits in the obesity epidemic are monosodium glutamate and aspartame, both cause cravings for carbohydrates and both dock on the same receptors in the brain. Humphries et al (2008)
"Ingestion of aspartame results in a craving for carbohydrates, which will eventually result in weight gain, especially because the formaldehyde stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs; therefore, aspartame is believed to cause problem [sic] in diabetic control." referring to Mehl-Madorna (2005)