A new study found that kids who prefer sugary snacks are at a higher risk for obesity than those who favor a bag of chips. Scientists have also discovered enough evidence to suggest a child's food preference is biologically-wired.
Some Kids Are Predisposed To Sweets
In a study published on Pediatrics via CBS News, a research team from the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital examined the food preference of more than 200 kids from low-income mothers. The kids fasted for one hour before choosing what they'll be having for lunch.
Their options were chocolate chip cookies and salty potato chips. The kids were also told that they could eat as much of the treats as they wanted.
After reviewing the results of the experiment, researchers concluded that those who preferred munching down on sweets ate considerably more food compared to those who chose salty snacks.
Preference Points To Behavior
Dr. Julie C. Lumeng, the paper's lead author, said the findings suggest some kids may be biologically-wired to prefer sweets, making them more likely to become obese when they grow older.
"There's been a literature out there for the past 10 or 20 years that there's variability between kids, at least at school age, in how interested they are in eating dessert after they already have a filling meal," Lumeng explained. "There have been some studies that show there are genetics underlying that. But no one ever looked at it in kids this young."
Parents Can Help Combat Unhealthy Eating Habits In Kids
Lumeng advised parents to closely monitor their child's eating habits at a very young age. If they become really interested in sweet foods, this may be a sign that they were born with a sweet tooth. In this case, parents should be careful on what types of food are being consumed at home to prevent their children from developing unhealthy eating habits.
Dr. Lenna Liu from the University of Washington School of Medicine told Fox News that poverty may play a huge role in influencing snacking habits in kids. She cautioned parents against mindless snacking and recommended that they establish a meal schedule which offers an assortment of healthy snacks for their kids.
