High salt intake: independent risk factor for obesity?

Excessive intake of salty foods may give rise to obesity in children and adults.

This study investigated the role of salty foods in the development of obesity. Researchers analyzed the nutritional habits of 458 children and 758 adults and measured the body mass index (BMI) of all participants in this study. 

Researchers found out that high consumption of salt is strongly related to increased body fat and obesity in both children and adults. Dietary ingestion of extra 1 gram of salt per day was found to elevate obesity risk by 28% in children and 26% in adults in this study. The results of this study show that likeness for salty foods may set an individual on the path to obesity.