One possible mechanism is that by tasting something sweet you respond hormonally the same as if you had consumed sugars, increasing pancreatic workloads. There'

One possible mechanism is that by tasting something sweet you respond hormonally the same as if you had consumed sugars, increasing pancreatic workloads. There's a fair bit of research showing that diet sodas increase hunger, so it isn't too far-fetched to believe something causal exists in there. The study by itself doesn't really prove causality though.