New research in mice shows how eating bread can cause body weight and fat mass to increase, even though caloric intake stays at a similar level.

The research, led by a team from Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan, highlights how carbohydrates can contribute to weight gain as well as excessive fat intake – which is what dietary advice tends to focus on.

This isn’t the first time nutritionists have talked about bread and carbohydrates and their contribution to weight gain, but there hasn’t been much detailed research into the relationship – especially wheat flour – or into what might be happening at a metabolic level.