Habitual eating becomes entrenched

Research in the US indicates that eating large amounts because they are offered becomes habitual. Barbara Rolls, of Penn State University, says people will consistently eat more when offered large meals, except in the case of vegetables. Experts agree it is difficult to convince Americans to limit their eating, because of the convenience of large portions at fast food outlets and the attraction of buying low-priced food in bulk. “People like value. We’ve got to shift people away from this value way of thinking of simply getting the most calories for the least dollars, to value in terms of health,” Rolls says.

Reuters