<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" Diet foods and drinks may in fact lead to overeating and obesity in children, researchers have said. A study published in the journal Obesity, conducted by researchers at the University of Alberta, found that young rats which were given low-calorie foods tended to overeat, regardless of whether they were initially lean or obese. Lead author Dr David Pierce, a sociologist at the university, commented: &amp;#039;Based on what we&amp;#039;ve learned, it is better for children to eat healthy, well-balanced diets with sufficient calories for their daily activities rather than low-calorie snacks or meals.&amp;#039; The use of diet food and drinks at an early age may induce overeating and gradual weight gain through a &amp;#039;taste conditioning process&amp;#039;, researchers believe. This occurs when people learn to connect the taste of a particular food with the amount of caloric energy it provides. Children who eat low-calorie versions of foods that would otherwise be high in calories may therefore develop distorted connections between taste and calorie content, causing them to overeat as they get older. Dr Pierce concluded that diet foods may be bad for children&amp;#039;s health, saying: &amp;#039;Parents and health professionals should be made aware of this and know that the old-fashioned ways to keep children fit and healthy - ensuring they eat well-balanced meals and exercise regularly - are the best ways.&amp;#039; \u00A9 Adfero Ltd "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/news/a15571/diet-foods-may-promote-obesity-in-children/>