Obesity is one of the most frequently encountered health problems and has now emerged as an epidemic that threatens the health of individuals throughout various regions and even throughout the world. This alarming increase in obesity and its allied health disorders gives one furiously to think about his or her eating habits, activity levels, exercise routine and in short, his whole lifestyle. Various studies are being conducted on the topic and numerous dollars have already been spent on the research of this crucially imperative health risk.

While there are many contributing factors to this health hazard, a key one is the effects of growing food portions of our commonly used products such as cheese burgers, sodas, muffins etc. The result is an excessive calorie intake by their consumers without actual awareness. Recent studies reveal that because of these increased portion sizes most people conceive them to be of a single serving and hence the issue of portion distortion comes into play. Over the past few decades the average portion sizes have grown from a single serving to a much larger portion, which is in actual fact sufficient for more than one individual. Hence, in order to keep those extra pounds off, you need to right-size your meals and harness those unwanted calories that sneak into our platters and make us overeat without realization.

Before buying a product make it a point to check the labels and note the serving size. Most fast food packs contains more than a single serving and need to be consumed in the mentioned amounts only.

Eat your food slowly and chew it a lot. Studies have shown that it takes our stomach about 10 minutes to completely register that it’s full. This explains why hasty eaters tend to eat a lot more without realizing that their stomach is full!

Try to sneak some healthy calories into your food to truly curb those cravings. Instead of helping yourself to a second heap of mashed potatoes, try filling your plate with salads and fruits. Not only will this satisfy your hunger but also prevent you from reaching for a large serving of dessert.

While dining out with friends and family limit your food intake to smaller sizes instead of wiping your plate spic and span and free from any food. Studies disclose that a huge number of people overeat by finishing the food on their plates completely, no matter how enormous the serving is.

When ordering food or drinks in a restaurant or at homes make it a practice to pick the smallest size available, instead of opting for those oversized soft drink cartons or double cheese burgers. Eating the right quantity of food is the solution to a healthier and improved lifestyle and allows you to take pleasure in those savory and scrumptious items as well without any worries of it ending up around your thighs or belly.