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A number of reasons for Britain’s obesity problem have been suggested: hidden sugar in food, a lack of exercise, and even addictive junk food. The answer to the question of why we’re getting fatter could be a lot simpler: we’re just eating too much. A recent study published in the Journal of Obesity offers further insight into what we’ve long known – that people around the world are eating more and more, out of larger food containers that make the temptation to overeat that much greater.

The obesity problem in Britain

Obesity levels in Britain are at alarming rates, and its links with diabetes make obesity an ever more worrying problem. A 2009 report suggested that by 2050, 90 per cent of today’s children could be obese, and stressed the importance of thinking of weight loss as being about health as well as about trying to look good, as being overweight can have serious health consequences. Solutions such as weighing food have long proved effective in weight loss, but solving the problem could be even simpler than that.

New research: growing portion sizes since the Last Supper

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Analysing depictions of the Last Supper, researchers have compared portion sizes shown on the table to the size of the disciples’ heads. They’ve found that far smaller food portions were shown in images created almost a millennium ago, and that portions have become steadily larger since then. It makes sense, then, that the world’s population is getting fatter, too, and that they’re wondering how it happens. The good news is that it’s not difficult to cut down on portion size, and it might just be the solution to your weight problem.

What’s the best way to control portion sizes?

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Controlling how much you eat is largely about common sense, but that doesn’t mean that we always think of the ways to convince ourselves we’ve had enough to eat. When you’re serving food, take smaller food portions and think about whether you’re full before going back for more. Use smaller crockery and serving utensils, and consider ordering half portions in restaurants – and if the food’s delicious but you know you’re full, have it packaged up to take home. If you’re eating from a package – don’t. Take the amount that you’d like from the container and take it away with you.

End of overeating

Avoiding unhealthy food entirely doesn’t just leave you unsatisfied in terms of taste, but it’s also difficult socially – teenagers can’t avoid fast food in many situations, and set menus and dinner parties make it difficult to always have a fat-free dinner. It’s for the same reason that we’re eating more – rather than thinking about how much we want, we just have whatever everyone else is having. Thinking about portion sizes as well as what it is that you’re eating could allow those who struggle with their weight to see the end of overeating – without the struggle.

Tags: eating healthily, healthy