Reducing portion sizes eating at home, dining-out in restaurants and from supermarket meals could help to significantly reduce obesity rates, according to a new study.
NHS figures show that obesity affects around 1 in every 4 adults and 1 in every 5 children aged between ten and 11 in the UK. It’s known that being overweight or obese can increase the risk of serious health implications, such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
The team at the University of Cambridge also said smaller plates, glasses and cutlery helped people eat less.  The researchers said that people were “reluctant” to leave a plate with food on it.  In a warning about the dangers of overserving, the authors calculated that ridding bigger portions from our diet would make consumers reduce their energy intake from food by 16%, and thereby help fight against obesity.
There has been evidence released by the British Heart Foundation in 2013 showing that curry ready meals had expanded by 50% in the previous 20 years, as had the number of crisps in a family bag. An individual shepherd’s pie ready meal grew by 98%, chicken pies were 40% bigger and a meat lasagne ready meal for one had increased by 39%.
If British consumers could avoid outsized portions, they would cut the amount of energy they get every day from food by 12%-16%, or up to 279 calories, the authors said. If American adults did the same, they could reduce their intake by 22%-29%, or a maximum of 527 calories each daily.
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