There is growing evidence that cutting fat levels in food could create an obesity timebomb in kids, it was claimed this week.

Results from a study into the diets of very young infants - presented to the EU's Childhood Obesity Programme last month - indicated that babies exposed to high levels of protein in formula feed had increased height and weight levels later in life.

The findings from the study by scientists across Europe supported those from a 2006 study by French scientist Marie Françoise Rolland-Cachera, which also found higher protein intakes in young children could be linked with greater body mass in later life.

At the time, Rolland-Cachera warned that dietary trends such as the switch from full-fat to low-fat milk could have an adverse effect on children's weight in the long term.

This was because reducing fat and sugar in food normally resulted in a higher protein content.

Both studies demonstrated that the Food Standards Agency was taking a gamble by pushing for reformulation of foods to make them lower in fat and sugar, according to one public health nutritionist who asked not to be named.

"The problem with low-fat, low-sugar and therefore high protein, products is that they might be a good idea for adults, but they will also be selected by well-meaning parents for their young children," he said.

"As a result these children's diets will have a high protein content overall putting them at greater risk of obesity.

"This problem will become worse if mainstream products are modified further.

"At best, the FSA proposals are an experiment on the public - without its consent."

In March, the FSA put its long-awaited draft strategy on saturated fat and energy intake out for consultation.

The agency is seeking views on whether it should develop "voluntary targets for relevant food categories, covering saturated fat and energy for different food categories".

"The FSA will consider any relevant new evidence in the development of thedraft programme, which is currently the subject of a public consultation," said a spokeswoman for the FSA.

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