Portion size key in tackling obesity, says study
BBC News | James Gallagher, Health editor | 15 September 2015
Reducing the portion sizes offered in supermarkets, restaurants and at home would help reverse the obesity epidemic, say researchers.
They say their review of 61 studies provides the “most conclusive evidence to date” that portion size affects how much we unwittingly eat.
The team at the University of Cambridge also said smaller plates, glasses and cutlery helped people eat less.
Experts said people were “reluctant” to leave a plate with food on it.
Their data, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, shows that when people are offered more food they will eat it.
And the team warns that in recent decades portion sizes have been increasing.
How portion sizes have changed
On average between 1993 and 2013:
- Shepherd’s pie ready meals almost doubled in size
- Bagels increased in size from 70g to 86g
- A family pack of crisps increased 50% from 100g to 150g
- A portion of peanuts is now 80% larger
- An individual chicken pie is now 40% bigger
Source: British Heart Foundation – Portion Distortion report
