Sweet news: Candy-eating kids less likely to be overweight
It doesn’t seem to make nutritional sense, but kids who eat candy are less likely to be overweight than their candy-avoiding counterparts.
Carol O’Neil, a dietitian and researcher at Louisiana State University’s Agricultural Center, tracked the eating habits of 11,000 kids ages two to 17 between 1999 and 2004.
She found kids and teens who indulged their sweet tooths were 22 per cent less likely to be overweight and 28 per cent less likely to be obese than those who avoided the sugary stuff.
CBS reports researchers also found the candy-eaters had lower levels of C-reactive protein, “a marker of inflammation in the body and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses.”
[Related: 5 tips to keep your blood sugar in check]
O’Neill is careful to emphasize children need improved eating habits — she called the study participants’ diets “abysmal” — and the findings should not be a free pass to candy-binging.
"Children need to eat healthy foods, nutrient-dense foods. They need to have fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy," O'Neil said. "And foods like candy should be occasional foods, celebratory foods and eaten in moderation."
Victor Fulgoni III, one of the study’s co-authors, emphasizes the study is strictly observational and the research doesn’t prove candy prevents weight gain. Nor does he rule out the candy-eaters are also more physically active than their overweight non-indulgers.
[Related: 5 'healthy' foods that are full of sugar]
“We can’t violate the laws of thermodynamics so these kids have figured out a way to balance their energy intake with their energy output,” he told the Toronto Star. “Kids who are active can therefore have more calories in their diet because that activity helps them be leaner.”
Jezebel points out the logic-defying study leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions. There’s no scientific explanation for the results, nor is anyone stepping up to recommend a candy diet for heart health.
Does the occasional candy keep a child from binging later on? Are the kids who aren’t eating candy restricted from the stuff because they’re already struggling with weight issues? Is there something in candy that’s actually good for the heart or metabolism?
Until we know more, stick to a healthy diet. But feel free to justify the occasional handful of M&Ms by citing sweet science.
(Photo credit: Martin Poole/Mood Board/Rex Features/The Canadian Press)
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