High calorie foods ought to be eaten moderately.
Diet foods for children could inadvertently trigger overeating and obesity, according to researchers.
Young rats were given low-calorie versions of foods and induced to overeat, whether they were lean or obese .
The researchers consider that low calorie versions of normally high-calorie foods play havoc with the body’s ability to utilise taste to regulate calorific intake.
The University of Alberta research findings appear in the journal Obesity.
Diet foods are not deemed to be a great brilliant idea for growing youngsters.
It is healthier for children to eat well balanced, healthy, diets with sufficient calories for their daily activities rather than low-calorie snacks or meals.
The researchers found that young rats given low-calorie foods began to overeat during their regular meals.
However, older rats, when fed diet foods did not have the same tendency to overeat.
Professor Pierce stated that the research emphasises the importance of promoting a balanced diet and exercise as the key ways to ensure fit and healthy children.
Obesity is a significant risk factor for both type 2 diabetes as well as cardiovascular disease, with increasing rates posing an increasing public health problem.
It is vital that children learn good eating habits when very young.
