The thought of eating beetles, caterpillars and ants may give you the creeps, but the authors of a UN report say the health benefits of consuming nutritious insects could help fight obesity.

The authors of the study by the Forestry Department, part of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, claim many insects contain the same amount of protein and minerals as meat and more of the healthy fats doctors recommend in balanced diets.

More than 1900 species of insects are eaten around the world, mainly in Africa and Asia.

But insect fare is becoming more trendy. Danish restaurant Noma – the world's best for three years running in one poll – is renowned for recipes including ants and fermented grasshoppers.

As well as helping in the battle against obesity, the report said insect farming was likely to be less land-dependent than traditional livestock and produce fewer greenhouse gases.

It would also provide business and export opportunities for poor people in developing countries.

Arnold van Huis, from Wageningen University in the Netherlands – one of the authors of the report – said barriers to enjoying dishes such as bee larvae yoghurt were psychological.

In a blind test carried out by his team, nine out of 10 people preferred meatballs made from roughly half meat and half mealworms to those made from meat.