Food guilt trips affect eating habits in later life

It’s one of the most pointless guilt trips parents pull on their children.

“Eat all your dinner. There are children starving in the world.”

But forcing children to empty their plate harms their attitude to food in later life.

Findings from Opinium Research shows that 80 of people living in the UK believe their immediate family affected their eating attitudes.

The most common guilt trip adults were told as children included: Don’t waste food because it costs money.

Head of healthcare research at Opinium Research, Kate Norfolk said: “It is interesting to see that your childhood can affect attitudes to eating when you are all grown up. Whilst many of us have busy lives, it is important to maintain a healthy diet, and to show children the importance of eating a balanced diet supplemented with exercise. This doesn’t mean that you can’t treat yourself every once in a while but the key is moderation.”