I would suspect it strongly depends on the dessert size. In North America desserts are huge and that's a problem. A small two-bite dessert won't hurt and would

I would suspect it strongly depends on the dessert size. In North America desserts are huge and that's a problem. A small two-bite dessert won't hurt and would give the same satisfaction as a big one. Also a small (and I mean really small) shot of fortified sweet wine (e.g. port or madeira) is a traditional way to finish a meal in some parts of Europe, which I suspect is healthier than a typical North American dessert.