Could smaller pies and pizzas conquer childhood obesity?
By John Welford
@indexer (4852)
Leicester, England
October 14, 2018 8:57am CST
The British Government's Department of Health has come up with a plan to help tackle childhood obesity, which is becoming a serious problem.
One part of the plan would be a requirement for chefs - especially in fast-food restaurants - not to exceed given size limits on their portions.
In particular, pies would be limited to 695 calories and pizzas to 928 calories. At present, for example, the standard Margherita served at Pizza Express has 1,051 calories.
What do you think? Bearing in mind that this proposal is only one aspect of a larger package of measures that include encouraging children to take more exercise, do you think it makes sense? Would it work, and could it be enforced? Or do you think that this is another example of the nanny state at work?
9 people like this
9 responses
@marguicha (215457)
• Chile
14 Oct 18
How about teaching children from an early age to eat other kinds of food? My children were not risen on pizzas and they were given fruits as desserts. They never had over weight problems and they could eat 3 pieces of cakes at birthday parties. Pizzas and pies should be occasional treats, not a part of a normal diet. And nether should French fries be given everyday, much less with ketchup.
3 people like this
@marguicha (215457)
• Chile
14 Oct 18
@indexer In my generation, we ate more and healthier.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
14 Oct 18
Yes, it is government dictation. People need to learn how to take care of themselves and learn discipline. It's a stupid idea anyway. People will just buy two pizzas instead of one.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
14 Oct 18
I think it is good to post the amount of calories in a menu item. Then let people decide themselves. We need to encourage more non starchy veggies that are not fried if we want to be healthier. If each item has fewer calories, well there is nothing to stop people from ordering two.
2 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58485)
• Germany
14 Oct 18
I think the idea is good. It can really help to stop childhood obesity 
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (45489)
• India
14 Oct 18
I am not sure how calories could be controlled, though the Pie size limitation won't be a bad thing.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9221)
• Austin, Texas
18 Oct 18
This is a great topic to bring up during National Pizza Month. My answer is YES. Serving smaller portion sizes is the way to go in the USA. Can't speak for other countries. But Americans eat way too much food because a lot of food is put on their plate and at an early age they are told "Eat everything on your plate or you won't have dessert!" Not only do the portion sizes need to change but the idea of "punishing" a kid by not "rewarding" them with dessert needs to change too. Actually in my house there was no such thing as desserts for regular everyday meals. Desserts were for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
@cmoneyspinner (9221)
• Austin, Texas
18 Oct 18
@indexer - There are those things in life that AMEN-worthy. Taking the food to the homeless is worth an AMEN!
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
18 Oct 18
Given that half the world is hungry, the morality of that thinking has to be called into question.
During my only visit to the US, back in 2006, I went with a group of people to a tapas bar where the portions served were so vast that nobody there could eat them. Being the sort of people they were - i.e. with a strong social conscience - they took all they could carry of the excess out into the city and gave it to the pavement dwellers of Baltimore, of whom there were far too many.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 18
I suppose it's something but seems a bit of a Band-Aid fix to me.
@NormanDarlo (1071)
• Ireland
15 Oct 18
If they don't get enough from one they'll order two. This is tackling the problem at the wrong end. Sugar is the real enemy, coupled with lack of exercise. A sugar tax is an obvious possibility, which has already been introduced here. Do you have it in the UK yet?
