Obesity Chief: Women Need Smaller Restaurant Portions

Professor Naveed Sattar, head of the Government's obesity programme, has controversially suggested that restaurants should offer smaller portion sizes for women. He believes that adapting menus to include reduced-calorie meals, approximately 25% smaller than standard offerings, could significantly contribute to tackling rising obesity rates.

These smaller portions, which would remain available alongside regular sizes, are intended to cater not only to women but also to shorter men and children who have lower daily energy requirements. The recommendation, published in a medical journal, advocates for food outlets to provide at least two portion size options for single-serving products, priced fairly.

While the proposal focuses on health benefits, columnist Liz Jones expressed strong disagreement, viewing it as an infringement on women's dining pleasure and a misunderstanding of how women approach special meal occasions. She argued that the focus should be on scrutinizing pre-packaged foods rather than restricting restaurant offerings.