Plea to curb super-size child portions

YOUNGSTERS being made to eat up excessive portions at meal times is fuelling the obesity crisis, warn nutritionists.

- Jane Kirby

Some 37% of parents always or often make their children eat everything on their plates, with a further 23% sometimes insisting they down everything served.

Nearly half (48%) of mums and dads said their offspring have second helpings at least once a week, while many rely on their own judgment for their kids' portion sizes.

The YouGov poll of 1,065 parents with under 18s for the British Nutrition Foundation also found 32% only sometimes or rarely feel confident about choosing the right amount of food, with 63% feeling confident.