Study Reveals Children Who Love Sugary Treats Have Higher Risk of Being Overweight

It is entirely normal for toddlers to crave for sweet-tasting food at their age. However, it has been recently confirmed by studies that toddlers with sweet teeth are at a higher risk for excessive weight gain than those toddlers who choose salty treats.

The new study found that toddlers who consumed high amounts of sweet treats were more likely to gain body fat at 33 months compared to those who preferred eating salty snacks after meals. A nutritionist has recently noticed that sweets snacks are everywhere these days, and keeping children away from it is quite a challenge.

"The likelihood of kids eating in the absence of hunger is increased with exposure to large portions of palatable, inexpensive, prepackaged and energy-dense foods in today's 'obesogenic' society," said Pamela Reichert-Anderson, of Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y.,  US News reported.

According to Times Live, researchers at the University of Michigan observed the eating habits of 209 children belonging to low-income families who were given a tray of cookies and potato chips after having lunch. The children who were no longer hungry were offered a tray of cookies and potato chips. They were allowed to eat as much as they can.

The result showed that children who reached for cookies more were at a higher risk of body fat increases before they turn 3 years old, the team of University of Michigan researchers found. "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."

Reichert-Anderson also explained that there are effective steps that parents can take to control overeating in a child who craves for sweets all the time. She said that restricting sugary foods may not work because it will make the child crave for more sweet treats in the future.

She suggested that instead of restricting children, parents should teach their them to be aware when they eat these sugary treats. This will make children understand that they should take their time and enjoy the food, as well as eat it in moderation. This can also teach children to develop a healthy eating habit.