That’s the suggestion of a new study published in the May issue of Pediatrics which found that toddlers who preferred sweet snacks were more likely to be gain body fat at 33 months than those who favored salty foods after a meal.
For the University of Michigan study, researchers observed the eating habits of 209 children from low-income families who were presented with a tray of cookies and potato chips after they were fed a substantial lunch.
“The tendency to eat when you’re not hungry increases with age and could have lifelong implications for weight gain,” said study co-author Julie Lumeng.
“We need to explore ways to target this drive to eat before children even turn three.”
– AFP Relaxnews