Narrator: This is Science Today. Health care professionals,
concerned about the rapid rise of obesity in children, are
looking into portion size and its link to weight gain. Nutrition
specialist, Lucia Kaiser, of the University of California, Davis
says there is some data indicating that serving larger portions
of food to kids will make them eat more and have a higher body
weight. Kaiser: The good news though, is that young children
still have the ability to eat just what they need, energy-wise,
if they're provided a good variety of nutritious foods.
Narrator: But studies also show that fast food restaurants today
are serving much greater portions. So how can parents reverse or
slow down overeating at home and outside? Kaiser: If there is
some concern about a child's weight, this should be discussed
with the pediatrician and with a nutritionist for a careful
guidance that would involve a family approach in changing the
family-style of eating, so that it isn't singling a child out
and restricting food. Science