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.
随着复活节的日益临近，这样一条新闻对于那些爱吃甜食的人来说或许是个不错的消息，因为爱吃糖不一定是他们所认为的对健康不利。
Candy and chocolate lovers tend to weigh less, have a lower BMI and waist circumference, according to a new study.
据一项最新的调查显示，爱吃糖果和巧克力的人的体重往往更轻，体重指数BmI和腰围也更小。
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.
不仅如此，这些受访者出现高血压风险的几率降低了14%，患上代谢综合征的几率也减少了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.
这样的消息或许让人还比较难以接受，特别是该项研究还获得了全国糖果协会的支持，其实这样的发现也不难理解，适当的吃甜食其实对你并不太坏。
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.
这项研究分析了在1999年到2004年间15000名年龄在19岁以上的成人的情况。
Participants were asked to remember what they had eaten the previous day, known as a 24-hour recall.
参加调查者被询问了在过去一天在所吃的食物，也就是所谓的24小时回溯。
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.
仅有20%的表示并未食用任何的糖果，但这也不排除他们忘记或者忽略的情况。
In the end results showed that candy and chocolate consumed in moderation did not increase their weight/BMI or contribute to disease.
最后的调查结果显示，适当的吃糖和巧克力用没有增加他们的体重/体重指数或导致疾病。
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.
参与调查的受访者平均每天只食用了1.3盎司的糖果和巧克力，这个量要比一小块巧克力更少些。
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.
路易斯安那州立大学农业中心的首席研究员Carol O'Neil提醒，这项并不是预示着消费者可以无所顾忌的食用甜食。
'We certainly don't want these results positioned as eating candy helps you to lose weight,' she said.
“我们并不想让结果误导大家吃糖有助于减肥，”她说，
'This study adds to the evidence base that supports candy's role as an occasional treat within a healthy lifestyle.'
“这项调查之事提供了证明，甜食在健康的生活方式中也占有一席之地。”