Diet foods 'increase obesity' in children

Especially given all the news about the growing obesity epidemic amongst children, it seems there's even more reason to be feeding your kids diet food and drinks.

But apparently not, say researchers, who, in a recent study, discovered that these so-called "diet" options may actually be part of the problem.

The reason, say scientists, is that, because the foods are artificially low in calories, they hinder children's ability to associate taste with calorie content. Subsequently, they'll reach adulthood without understanding which foods are most-likely to cause weight gain, and be at greater risk for obesity later in life.

Granted, this research was conducted on rats, who can't read labels, or be taught through discussion that there's a difference between low-calorie ice cream and sweets of the more traditional, gut-busting variety (for instance). However, it's yet another study that points to the one, consistent truth about keeping your kids fit: feed them well-balanced meals, and make sure the exercise. It's really as simple as that.