Recent research shows almost half of Australians either are overweight or obese. Moreover, another SBS News report also shows that the past three decades, a global citizen has a bigger waistline, putting an average of 5-6 kilograms (kg) or 6 kg for women and 8 kg for men.
This certainly will have an impact on our health and will cost the health care system as chronic illnesses are associated with weight gains.
Listen to news about global obesity here:
https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/services/embeds/audioplayer/55f464d0-c53d-46e5-bea1-dfc99845bbcb
But do we know what is the correct food portion size? Megan Alsford a dietician and the Nutrition and Program Development Manager at Jenny Craig recommends we check with Jenny Craig management of portion size or we can check with the Australian government healthy eating site.
Jenny Craig recent research shows that people around 40% of Australian don't know the correct food portion size rather than focus on the food itself, two-thirds have upsized their food portion using food delivery and over two-thirds also have an extra dinner that is a snack. Therefore we end up eating more food than our body needs. And this would lead to weight gain or obesity increased by 20% since 1995.
Listen to full interview SBS Radio Hmong Program had with Megan Alsford here: https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/services/embeds/audioplayer/fd083aff-58a4-40c3-9430-9ebe747ab3f7
Alsford also claims that "millennials have the least food control and they tend to indulge their bigger food size just because it is a little bit cheaper. As they are those who prefer food delivery, upsizing their food could lead to weight gain and they also tend to waste food due to unable to finish it".
More disturbingly, people still don't know what is the correct food portion size, says Alsford.
She said that government and local ministers should make nutrition a priority, as the Dietician Association of Australia has proposed.
But the most important point is, says Megan Alsford, "we should make our health a priority and try every opportunity to be active in our days and making sure that we have the correct food portion size with healthy balance food with vegetable and fruits".#
