愛吃糖果的人身材更苗條?

With Easter just around the corner those with a sweet tooth may be heartened to know their sugary habit is not as bad for them as they first thought.
　　隨着復活節的日益臨近，這樣一條新聞對於那些愛吃甜食的人來說或許是個不錯的消息，因爲愛吃糖不一定是他們所認爲的對健康不利。

Candy and chocolate lovers tend to weigh less, have a lower BMI and waist circumference, according to a new study.

據一項最新的調查顯示，愛吃糖果和巧克力的人的體重往往更輕，體重指數BmI和腰圍也更小。

In addition those surveyed had a 14 per cent lower risk of elevated blood pressure and a 15 per cent decreased risk of having metabolic syndrome.

不僅如此，這些受訪者出現高血壓風險的機率降低了14%，患上代謝綜合徵的機率也減少了15%。

Granted the news might be hard to swallow for some - especially as the study is supported by the National Confectioners Association - and broken down the findings are rather obvious - that eating sweet things in moderation isn't terrible for you.

這樣的消息或許讓人還比較難以接受，特別是該項研究還獲得了全國糖果協會的支持，其實這樣的發現也不難理解，適當的吃甜食其實對你並不太壞。

The study, funded by the National Confectioners Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, analysed diet surveys from more than 15,000 U.S. adults aged 19 or older filled out between 1999 and 2004.

這項研究分析了在1999年到2004年間15000名年齡在19歲以上的成人的情況。

Participants were asked to remember what they had eaten the previous day, known as a 24-hour recall.

參加調查者被詢問了在過去一天在所吃的食物，也就是所謂的24小時回溯。

Only about 20 per cent said they consumed any candy at all but that could mean they had completely forgotten or omitted an extra candy bar from the list.

僅有20%的表示並未食用任何的糖果，但這也不排除他們忘記或者忽略的情況。

In the end results showed that candy and chocolate consumed in moderation did not increase their weight/BMI or contribute to disease.

最後的調查結果顯示，適當的吃糖和巧克力用沒有增加他們的體重/體重指數或導致疾病。

The participants in the study only ate around 1.3 ounces of candy and chocolate a day on average - less than a small bar of chocolate.

參與調查的受訪者平均每天只食用了1.3盎司的糖果和巧克力，這個量要比一小塊巧克力更少些。

Carol O'Neil, lead researcher at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, warned against thinking the study meant consumers could gorge on sweet treats and not feel the effects.

路易斯安那州立大學農業中心的首席研究員Carol O'Neil提醒，這項並不是預示着消費者可以無所顧忌的食用甜食。

'We certainly don't want these results positioned as eating candy helps you to lose weight,' she said.

“我們並不想讓結果誤導大家吃糖有助於減肥，”她說，

'This study adds to the evidence base that supports candy's role as an occasional treat within a healthy lifestyle.'

“這項調查之事提供了證明，甜食在健康的生活方式中也佔有一席之地。”