BUT PASTA CAN HELP YOU SLIM (SAY THE ITALIANS)

IT’S one of the first things people give up when starting a diet. But experts have found that pasta does not make you fat – and may help you slim.

When eaten as part of a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables and olive oil, pasta is linked with a slight reduction in Body Mass Index and waistline size.

The study by Italian scientists analysed the diets of more than 23,000 people. The daily amount of pasta they consumed was standardised and compared to their BMI, waist and hip measurements.

Researchers concluded there was no link between eating pasta and gaining weight – it was actually linked to being slimmer.

George Pounis, lead author of the paper published in the journal Nutrition and Diabetes, said that ‘consumption of pasta, contrary to what many think, is not associated with an increase in body weight, rather the opposite.’

Researchers found those who ate pasta regularly were also more likely to follow the traditional Mediterranean diet, eating mainly tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, seasoned cheese and rice.

But they said the beneficial effect of eating pasta existed regardless.

Dr Aseem Malhotra, adviser to the National Obesity Forum, said those studied ate around 50g to 65g a day – much less than portions often eaten in the UK. He added: ‘Quantity is key.’