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SUPERSIZED SALES PITCH

Brits pile on up to a stone a year after pushy sales staff encourage people to switch to super-sized portions

A study finds customers are encouraged to switch to super-sized meals 106 times a year

PEOPLE pile on up to a stone a year after being persuaded to buy larger portions and extra sides by pushy sales staff.

They are encouraged to have super-sized meals, take a double measure of booze or buy a choc bar 106 times a year.

 Customers are encouraged to switch to super-sized meals 106 times a year
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Customers are encouraged to switch to super-sized meals 106 times a yearCredit: Stockbyte - Getty
 Brits are eating 40,000 extra calories and gain 11lbs (5kgs) a year as a result
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Brits are eating 40,000 extra calories and gain 11lbs (5kgs) a year as a resultCredit: Getty - Contributor

Three quarters are subjected to an “upselling” attempt at least once a week, a survey reveals.
Those aged 18 to 24 are most likely targets. They eat 40,000 extra calories and gain 11lb a year as a result.

The Royal Society for Public Health and Slimming World quizzed 2,055 people for the survey.

It reveals a third of adults had bought a larger coffee, bigger meal, an extra chocolate bar or a side-portion of chips as a result of upselling in the previous week.

Over two in three adults in the UK is overweight or obese, leaving them at increased risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes, cancer and stroke.

Obesity is estimated to cost the NHS £10billion a year by 2050, with the wider cost to society and businesses expected to hit £50million.

 Over two in three adults in the UK is overweight or obese
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Over two in three adults in the UK is overweight or obeseCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Those aged 18 to 24 are most likely to be targeted by shop workers and waiting staff
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Those aged 18 to 24 are most likely to be targeted by shop workers and waiting staffCredit: Getty - Contributor

Jenny Caven, from Slimming World, said: “It may seem that having a little extra or a larger bar of chocolate or bigger bag of crisps here and there won’t do much harm.

“The reality is that it all adds up – especially if you aren’t aware that many of these extra calories do little to satisfy your appetite or fill you up."

How many extra calories are you eating?

Short caffe mocha > Venti caffe mocha (with whole milk and whipped cream)
249 > 564 = 315 extra calories

Small chocolate bar > large chocolate bar
240 > 1,060 = 820

Sandwich > meal deal (crisps + bottle of coke) from train station
402 > 676 = 274

Medium fast food meal > large fast food meal
1,070 > 1,219 = 149

Add onion rings at to meal at restaurant (pie, chips and peas)
1,593 > 1,931 = 338

Regular > large glass of wine at bar
106 > 211 = 105

Single measure > double measure at pub/bar
115 > 168 = 53

Small popcorn > large popcorn at cinema
318 > 816 = 498

Adding starter and dessert at restaurant (based on small nachos + choc fudge cake and ice cream)
1,593 > 3,241 = 1,648