New research says a simple, easy way to help people who over-eat is to use smaller plates, knives, forks, and glasses. This is instead of going on a diet. Many people use their plate as a guide. If they use a large plate, they fill it with food. This means they eat too much. Cambridge University says British people could cut their calories by up to 16 per cent, while Americans could cut theirs by up to 29 per cent.

The researchers looked at a lot of data. Dr Gareth Hollands said there was not a lot of research on portion sizes and how much people eat. He added that it was wrong to think that people who ate too much had no self-control. Restaurants and shops can help people to stop over-eating by using smaller plates. People should also do this at home. This is a good way of helping lots of people to stop eating too much.