Yet another report is pointing to bigger plates, larger portions and super-size deals as a major cause of rising levels of obesity.
This research, carried out by the University of Cambridge suggests that eliminating larger-size portions from the diet completely could reduce energy intake by up to 16 per cent among U.K. adults or 29 per cent among U.S. adults.
Researchers at the Behaviour and Health Research Unit combined results from 61 high-quality studies, capturing data from 6,711 participants, to investigate the influence of portion, package and tableware size on food consumption.
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The data showed that people consistently consume more food and drink when offered larger-size portions, packages or tableware than when offered smaller-size versions.
“There has also been a tendency to portray personal characteristics like being overweight or a lack of self-control as the main reason people overeat,” said Dr. Gareth Hollands from the Behaviour and Health Research Unit, who co-led the review.
“In fact, the situation is far more complex. Our findings highlight the important role of environmental influences on food consumption. Helping people to avoid ‘overserving’ themselves or others with larger portions of food or drink by reducing their size, availability and appeal in shops, restaurants and in the home, is likely to be a good way of helping lots of people to reduce their risk of overeating.”
The researchers say actions could be taken to reduce the size, availability or appeal of larger-size portions, packages and tableware. But making smaller portion sizes a reality is likely to require regulation or legislation.
One potential action includes restricting pricing practices whereby larger portion and package sizes cost less in relative (and sometimes absolute) monetary terms than smaller sizes and thus offer greater value for money to consumers; and restricting price promotions on larger portion and package sizes.
“At the moment, it is all too easy — and often better value for money — for us to eat or drink too much,” said Ian Shemilt, who co-led the review. “The evidence is compelling now that actions that reduce the size, availability and appeal of large servings can make a difference to the amounts people eat and drink.”
