The role of portion distortion in the Malaysian obesity pandemic

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It's no secret that Malaysia is in the midst of an obesity pandemic. In fact, according to a study by the World Health Organisation, almost two-thirds of Malaysian adults are overweight or obese. So what's to blame for this? Some experts say that portion distortion is one of the leading factors – we're eating too much food because it's being served to us in larger and larger portions. This week, we take a closer look at portion distortion and how it contributes to weight gain.

This is a major problem in Malaysia, where portion sizes have increased significantly over the past few decades. As the size of plates and cups grows bigger so does our caloric intake, this is because bigger portions don't look as big when served on big tableware.

One study found that people served themselves 31% more food when using larger plates, and another showed that increasing the size of bowls led people to eat 56% more soup. Most people from a young age have been taught to not waste food and finish everything even if they're full which leads to overeating.

So how can we fix this problem? One way is to be more mindful of our portion sizes and make an effort to serve smaller portions. Another is to use smaller plates and bowls, which will make the food look like a larger percentage of the dish and trick our brains into thinking we're eating more.

If you're struggling with portion control, personal training can be a great way to get on track. A personal trainer can help you assess your eating habits and develop a healthy nutrition plan that's tailored to your individual needs. They can also provide guidance and support to help you make lasting changes to your diet and eating habits.

If you're looking for a personal trainer in Kuala Lumpur, get in touch with us for a FREE consultation session!

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