Eat the sweet - beat the fat !

FAR from piling on the pounds, a chocolate habit can help keep you slim, new research suggests.

Just in time for Easter, scientists have announced the discovery every chocolate lover has been waiting for.

A study found that, despite boosting calorie intake, regular chocolate consumption is related to lower body mass index (BMI).

The effect is modest but greater than can be explained by chance, said the US researchers who took account of influencing factors such as overall fat consumption and exercise.

BMI relates height and weight and is the standard measurement used to assess levels of obesity.

The news emerged after scientists screened a group of 972 men and women with an average age of 57 for a study of statins – cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Among other diet and lifestyle questions, participants were asked: “How many times a week do you consume chocolate?”

Chocolate is known to contain plant chemicals called polyphenols that combat heart disease and may influence metabolism.

The researchers suspected they might, to some extent, off-set the unwelcome effects of high saturated fat levels in chocolate bars and sweets.

The results showed that chocolate was not only “calorie neutral” but actually appeared to make people slimmer.

Participants who ate chocolate on more days of the week than average were statistically likely to have a lower BMI than those who did not.

“This was despite the fact that people who ate more chocolate did not consume fewer calories overall or take more exercise.

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