Health experts are warning that Brits are contributing to their weight gain by making a common mistake when munching on crisps. A study conducted by LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor has exposed that many people are overportioning their crisps by 103 per cent – which means they are typically consuming more than double the recommended amount in one go.
The study, focusing on portion sizes, had participants dish out what they estimated to be an appropriate serving of various foods, including crisps. The findings were eye-opening, as the average portion poured was 51g – well above the advised 25g.
It seems that the temptation to devour a whole share-bag of crisps (150g) is too great for many, with three-quarters admitting to polishing off one solo. That is a whopping six portions in one sitting, reports Surrey Live.
When quizzed about the ideal crisp portion size, nearly half correctly identified 25g as the standard, which is commonly found in multipack bags. However, a third got it wrong, thinking it should be 45g, which actually aligns with the typical grab bag size that is often marked as two servings.
Vinny Kodamala, a nutritionist, emphasised the importance of accurate portioning: “A food portion is the amount of food you eat in one serving. It’s important to be aware of portion sizes. Eating too much or not enough of any type of food can increase your risk of health problems. Too much saturated fat and salt can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Whilst too much sugar can lead to weight gain and tooth decay.”
The wider implications are concerning, with data from the investigation revealing that for the 19 foods and drinks examined, a staggering 89 per cent were served in overly generous portions.
The 10 most over-portioned foods and drinks were:
Chocolate (+199%)
Dried apricots (+170%)
Gin (+111%)
Crisps (+103%)
Rice (+91%)
Grated cheese (+90%)
Spaghetti (+71%)
Pasta (+63%)
Grapes (+60%)
Broccoli (+60%)
Chocolate has seen a staggering 199 per cent overconsumption rate compared to the recommended portion of four small squares or 20g, with people indulging in three times that amount. The typical serving recorded was 12 squares (60g), although some participants consumed up to 46 squares (184g).
“Chocolate is a high-calorie food which is high in sugar and saturated fat. While delicious, it’s not essential to our diets and should be enjoyed only as a treat, less often and in smaller amounts,” Vinny said.
Next on the list, dried apricots saw a 170 per cent increase over the ideal serving size, as on average, individuals served themselves almost three times more than the advisable 30g portion.
“While gram for gram, dried apricots have more fibre, carotenoids and protective plant chemicals versus fresh apricots, they are naturally high in sugar and are higher in calories. For this reason, just 30g counts as one of your five-a-day,” Vinny said.
Gin servings exceeded recommendations by 111 per cent, with an average self-pour of 53ml being recorded, over twice the standard 25ml measure.
Vinny said: “With portions of this size, participants would be consuming more than double the amount of calories and units of alcohol. While there’s no completely safe level of drinking, the NHS recommends no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread across at least three days.”
“If you’re concerned you’re not meeting government dietary recommendations, you’re not alone. Recent research shows most people in the UK eat and drink too many calories, too much fat, sugar and salt, and not enough fruit, vegetables, oily fish or fibre.
“In fact, a conservative government estimate suggests most adults are eating 200 to 300 more calories than recommended each day. And it’s not hard to see why. We are constantly being persuaded to buy and eat more food through food advertising, promotions and access to restaurants and cafés.”