Increasing the portion size of a packaged snack increases energy intake in men and women

Large food portions may be facilitating excess energy intake (EI) and adiposity among adults. The present study aimed to assess the extent to which EI and amounts of foods consumed are influenced by the availability of different-sized food portions. A randomised within-subject cross-over, fully residential design was used, where forty-three (twenty-one men and twenty-two women) normal-weight and overweight adults were randomly allocated to two separate 4 d periods where they were presented with either ‘standard’ or ‘large’ food portions of the same foods and beverages. The main outcome measures were the amount of food (g) and EI (MJ) consumed throughout each study period. Mean EI over 4 d was significantly higher on the large portion condition compared with the standard condition in the total group (59·1 (sd 6·6) v. 52·2 (sd 14·3) MJ; P = 0·020); men and women increased their EI by 17 % (10 (sd 6·5) MJ; P < 0·001) and 10 % (4 (sd 6·5) MJ; P = 0·005) respectively when served the large food portions relative to the standard food portions. The increased intakes were sustained over the 4 d in the large portion condition with little evidence of down-regulation of EI and food intake being made by subjects. Increased food portion size resulted in significant and sustained increases in EI in men and women over 4 d under fully residential conditions. The availability and consumption of larger portions of food may be a significant factor contributing to excess EI and adiposity.

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Portion size of food affects energy intake in normal-weight and overweight men and women

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/76.6.1207 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 76 (6) ◽

pp. 1207-1213 ◽

Cited By ~ 491

Author(s):

Barbara J Rolls ◽

Erin L Morris ◽

Liane S Roe

Keyword(s):

Energy Intake ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Portion Size ◽

Men And Women

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Reductions in portion size and energy density of foods are additive and lead to sustained decreases in energy intake.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.11448.468933 ◽

2006 ◽

Author(s):

Bruce Bistrian

Keyword(s):

Energy Density ◽

Energy Intake ◽

Portion Size

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A universal driver of human eating behaviour? Individual differences in energy intake in response to reducing main meal portion size

Appetite ◽

10.1016/j.appet.2020.104892 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 104892

Author(s):

Eric Robinson ◽

Ashleigh Haynes

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Energy Intake ◽

Eating Behaviour ◽

Portion Size ◽

Main Meal

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Trends in Americans’ food-related time use: 1975–2006

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980009992138 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1064-1072 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Cathleen D Zick ◽

Robert B Stevens

Keyword(s):

Energy Intake ◽

Time Use ◽

Food Preparation ◽

Future Research ◽

Historical Period ◽

Grocery Shopping ◽

Obesity Risk ◽

Eating Time ◽

Men And Women ◽

The Past

AbstractObjectiveTo describe how the time spent in food-related activities by Americans has changed over the past 30 years.DesignData from four national time diary surveys, spanning 1975–2006, are used to construct estimates of trends in American adults’ time spent in food-related activities. Multivariate Tobits assess how food-related activities have changed over time controlling for sociodemographic and economic covariates.ResultsBoth bivariate and multivariate estimates reveal that between 1975 and 2006, American women’s time spent in food preparation declined substantially, whereas the time spent in these activities by American men changed very little. On the contrary, grocery shopping time increased modestly for both men and women. The primary eating time (i.e. time when eating/drinking was the respondent’s main focus) declined for both men and women over this historical period, and the composition of this time changed with less primary eating time being done alone. Concurrently, secondary eating time (i.e. time when something else had the respondent’s primary attention, but eating/drinking simultaneously occurred) rose precipitously for both women and men between 1975 and 1998.ConclusionsThe total time spent in eating (i.e. primary plus secondary eating time) has increased over the past 30 years, and the composition of this time has shifted from situations in which energy intake can be easily monitored to those in which energy intake may be more difficult to gauge. Less time is also being spent in food preparation and clean-up activities. Future research should explore possible links between these trends and Americans’ growing obesity risk.

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Mechanisms behind the portion size effect-visibility and bite size

10.31232/osf.io/6spb7 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Kyle Stanley Burger ◽

Susan L. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Size Effect ◽

Energy Intake ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Visual Cues ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Portion Size ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Bite Size ◽

Subject Design ◽

Participant Characteristics

Increases in portion size lead to increases in energy intake, yet the mechanisms behind this ‘portion size effect’ are unclear. This study tested possible mechanisms of the portion size effect i.e., bite size and visual cues in 30 over- and normal-weight individuals (15 men, 15 women). A 2x2 repeated measures, within-subject design was used to test the effects of portion size (410g vs. 820g of a pasta dish) and visual cues (blindfolded vs. visible) on energy intake. At each meal participants were exposed to one of four experimental conditions (small portion/visible; small portion/blindfold; large portion/visible; large portion/blindfold). Participant characteristics, food intake, number of bites, meal duration, palatability measures and hunger and fullness were assessed. In response to a doubling of the portion presented, entrée energy intake increased 26% (220kcal P < 0.001) and mean bite size increased 2.4g/bite (P < 0.05). Overweight individuals consumed 40% (334kcal) more of the entrée in response to the large portion condition (P < 0.05), while lean individuals’ intakes did not differ (P < 0.56). A 12% (122kcal) decrease in entrée intake was observed in the blindfolded condition (P < 0.01), but no portion by visual cue interaction was found; indicating that blindfolding did not attenuate the portion size effect. These data suggest that the portion size effect is greater in overweight individuals and occurs via changes in bite size.

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