Cereals are 'not linked to obesity'

Child-friendly breakfast cereals are not linked to high obesity rates, one nutrition expert has said.

According to a survey by mysupermarket.co.uk, cereals that are marketed as being nutritious contain large amounts of sugar and the top ten selling brands in the UK contain more salt than a Cadbury Milk Chocolate Cake bar.

However, Claire Williamson, nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation, disputed the suggestion that cereals might be a cause of obesity.

"The Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) for total sugars for children age five to ten years is 85g per day, so a cereal providing 13.6g of sugars would provide 16 per cent of a young child's GDA," she explained, while a salt serving would usually be just ten per cent of a child's recommended intake.

Ms Williamson added: "Cereals with these levels of sugar and salt can be accommodated within a healthy, balanced diet for children of this age."

Causes of obesity can be linked to sedentary lifestyles and consumption of "inappropriate" food and drink, the expert said.

© Adfero Ltd

Obesity treatment news : 23 April 2010