scholarly journals Determinants of Portion Size in Children and Adolescents: Insights from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme (2008–2016)

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pam Blundell-Birtill ◽  
Marion M. Hetherington
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Portion Size ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Snack Foods ◽  
Portion Sizes ◽  
The Uk

Large portion sizes have been identified as contributing to overweight and obesity, particularly in children and adolescents. This study examined predictors of portion sizes of high energy snack foods eaten by children aged 1.5–18 years. Specifically, we examined whether portion sizes were adjusted for age, and what external features of the environment might be linked to large portion sizes. Portion sizes were derived from four-day food diaries that form the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Diaries from 5942 children were examined and multilevel models were used to discover whether age, gender, location, time of day, household income, and watching TV while eating predicted portion sizes of savoury snacks, chocolate, confectionery and biscuits. Portion sizes of all the target foods were predicted by age. Boys had larger portions, and portion sizes were larger when target foods were consumed later in the day. Portion sizes were larger outside the home, for example in leisure venues, but the target foods were eaten more frequently in the home. As dietary patterns change to include more snack intake outside the home, these locations could be an important space to target for interventions for portion control.

scholarly journals Predictors of vegetable consumption in children and adolescents: analyses of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008–2017)

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Liam R. Chawner ◽  
Pam Blundell-Birtill ◽  
Marion M. Hetherington
Keyword(s):  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Average Energy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Portion Sizes ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Children’s vegetable consumption is generally below national recommendations in the UK. This study examined predictors of vegetable intake by children aged 1·5–18 years using counts and portion sizes derived from 4-d UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey food diaries. Data from 6548 children were examined using linear and logit multilevel models. Specifically, we examined whether demographic variables predicted vegetable consumption, whether environmental context influenced portion sizes of vegetables consumed and which food groups predicted the presence (or absence) of vegetables at an eating occasion (EO). Larger average daily intake of vegetables (g) was predicted by age, ethnicity, equivalised income, variety of vegetables eaten and average energy intake per d (R2 0·549). At a single EO, vegetables were consumed in larger portion sizes at home, with family members and at evening mealtimes (Conditional R2 0·308). Within EO, certain configurations of food groups such as carbohydrates and protein predicted higher odds of vegetables being present (OR 12·85, 95 % CI 9·42, 17·54), whereas foods high in fats, sugars and salt predicted a lower likelihood of vegetable presence (OR 0·03, 95 % CI 0·02, 0·04). Vegetables were rarely eaten alone without other food groups. These findings demonstrate that only one portion of vegetables was eaten per d (median) and this was consumed at a single EO, therefore falling below recommendations. Future research should investigate ways to encourage vegetable intake at times when vegetables are not regularly eaten, such as for breakfast and as snacks, whilst considering which other, potentially competing, foods are presented alongside vegetables.

scholarly journals Is there an association between food portion size and BMI among British adolescents?

2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. 841-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salwa A. Albar ◽  
Nisreen A. Alwan ◽  
Charlotte E. L. Evans ◽  
Janet E. Cade
Keyword(s):  
High Energy ◽  
Soft Drinks ◽  
Portion Size ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Breakfast Cereals ◽  
Portion Sizes ◽  
Food Portion ◽  
High Fibre

The prevalence of obesity has increased simultaneously with the increase in the consumption of large food portion sizes (FPS). Studies investigating this association among adolescents are limited; fewer have addressed energy-dense foods as a potential risk factor. In the present study, the association between the portion size of the most energy-dense foods and BMI was investigated. A representative sample of 636 British adolescents (11–18 years) was used from the 2008–2011 UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey. FPS were estimated for the most energy-dense foods (those containing above 10·5 kJ/g (2·5 kcal/g)). Regression models with BMI as the outcome variable were adjusted for age, sex and misreporting energy intake (EI). A positive association was observed between total EI and BMI. For each 418 kJ (100 kcal) increase in EI, BMI increased by 0·19 kg/m2(95 % CI 0·10, 0·28;P< 0·001) for the whole sample. This association remained significant after stratifying the sample by misreporting. The portion sizes of a limited number of high-energy-dense foods (high-fibre breakfast cereals, cream and high-energy soft drinks (carbonated)) were found to be positively associated with a higher BMI among all adolescents after adjusting for misreporting. When eliminating the effect of under-reporting, larger portion sizes of a number of high-energy-dense foods (biscuits, cheese, cream and cakes) were found to be positively associated with BMI among normal reporters. The portion sizes of only high-fibre breakfast cereals and high-energy soft drinks (carbonated) were found to be positively associated with BMI among under-reporters. These findings emphasise the importance of considering under-reporting when analysing adolescents' dietary intake data. Also, there is a need to address adolescents' awareness of portion sizes of energy-dense foods to improve their food choice and future health outcomes.

scholarly journals The Role of Dishware Size in the Perception of Portion Size in Children and Adolescents with Obesity

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2062
Author(s):  
Annica Franziska Dörsam ◽  
Alisa Weiland ◽  
Helene Sauer ◽  
Katrin Elisabeth Giel ◽  
Nanette Stroebele-Benschop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Portion Size ◽  
Size Perception ◽  
Cognitive Evaluation ◽  
Portion Sizes ◽  
Exact Amount

Purpose: The influence of dishware on portion size perception in children and adolescents is inconclusive. This study investigated how children and adolescents with both obesity and a normal weight perceived portion size in different sized and shaped dishware items. Methods: The study included 60 children and adolescents with overweight and obesity (OBE) and 27 children and adolescents with normal weight (NW) aged from 9 to 17 years. The participants estimated quantities in three pairs of drinking glasses, one pair of bowls and two pairs of plates which varied in size and shape. The children were instructed to state intuitively which portion they would choose for big or small thirst/hunger. Thereafter they were asked to determine the exact amount by answering which dishware item contained the larger/smaller portion (cognitive evaluation). Results: There were no substantial differences in the intuitive evaluation of portion sizes between OBE and NW. During the cognitive evaluation, OBE estimated the amount of water in the glasses more correctly compared to NW (61% vs. 43%; p = 0.008); OBE estimated the amount of lentils in the bowls and on the plates significantly less correctly (39%) compared to NW (56%; p = 0.013). Conclusions: Habit formation and environmental stimuli might play a greater role in estimating food amounts in dishware than the child’s and adolescent’s body weight.

scholarly journals Analysis of the National Adult Nutrition Survey (Ireland) and the Food4Me Nutrition Survey Databases to Explore the Development of Food Labelling Portion Sizes for the European Union

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Gibney ◽  
Aifric O’Sullivan ◽  
Albert Flynn ◽  
Janette Walton ◽  
Hannelore Daniel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Portion Size ◽  
Food Labelling ◽  
Food Diary ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Portion Sizes ◽  
Food Portion ◽  
Food Portion Size ◽  
The Eu

The present study set out to explore the option of developing food portion size for nutritional labelling purposes using two European Union (EU) dietary surveys. The surveys were selected as they differed in (a) methodologies (food diary versus food frequency questionnaire), (b) populations (Irish National Adult Nutrition Survey (NANS) versus a seven-country survey based on the pan EU study Food4Me), (c) food quantification (multiple options versus solely photographic album) and (d) duration (4 consecutive days versus recent month). Using data from these studies, portion size was determined for 15 test foods, where portion size was defined as the median intake of a target food when consumed. The median values of the portion sizes derived from both the NANS and Food4Me surveys were correlated (r = 0.823; p < 0.00) and the mean of the two survey data sets were compared to US values from the Recognized as Customarily Consumed (RACC) database. There was very strong agreement across all food categories between the averaged EU and the US portion size (r = 0.947; p < 0.00). It is concluded that notwithstanding the variety of approaches used for dietary survey data in the EU, the present data supports using a standardized approach to food portion size quantification for food labelling in the EU.

scholarly journals High-risk environments for eating foods surplus to requirements: a multilevel analysis of adolescents’ non-core food intake in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS)

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoi Toumpakari ◽  
Kate Tilling ◽  
Anne M Haase ◽  
Laura Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Risk Environments ◽  
Core Energy

AbstractObjectiveInterventions to reduce adolescents’ non-core food intake (i.e. foods high in fat and sugar) could target specific people or specific environments, but the relative importance of environmental contexts v. individual characteristics is unknown.DesignCross-sectional.SettingData from 4d food diaries in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008–2012 were analysed. NDNS food items were classified as ‘non-core’ based on fat and sugar cut-off points per 100g of food. Linear multilevel models investigated associations between ‘where’ (home, school, etc.) and ‘with whom’ (parents, friends, etc.) eating contexts and non-core food energy (kcal) per eating occasion (EO), adjusting for variables at the EO (e.g. time of day) and adolescent level (e.g. gender).ParticipantsAdolescents (n 884) aged 11–18 years.ResultsOnly 11 % of variation in non-core energy intake was attributed to differences between adolescents. In adjusted models, non-core food intake was 151 % higher (ratio; 95 % CI) in EO at ‘Eateries’ (2·51; 2·14, 2·95) and 88 % higher at ‘School’ (1·88; 1·65, 2·13) compared with ‘Home’. EO with ‘Friends’ (1·16; CI 1·03, 1·31) and ‘Family & friends’ (1·21; 1·07, 1·37) contained 16–21 % more non-core food compared with eating ‘Alone’. At the individual level, total energy intake and BMI, but not social class, gender or age, were weakly associated with more non-core energy intake.ConclusionsRegardless of individual characteristics, adolescents’ non-core food consumption was higher outside the home, especially at eateries. Targeting specific eating contexts, not individuals, may contribute to more effective public health interventions.

scholarly journals Consumer Understanding, Perception and Interpretation of Serving Size Information on Food Labels: A Scoping Review

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klazine Van der Horst ◽  
Tamara Bucher ◽  
Kerith Duncanson ◽  
Beatrice Murawski ◽  
David Labbe
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Portion Size ◽  
Food Literacy ◽  
Size Information ◽  
Size Selection ◽  
Portion Sizes ◽  
Serving Sizes ◽  
Serving Size

The increase in packaged food and beverage portion sizes has been identified as a potential factor implicated in the rise of the prevalence of obesity. In this context, the objective of this systematic scoping review was to investigate how healthy adults perceive and interpret serving size information on food packages and how this influences product perception and consumption. Such knowledge is needed to improve food labelling understanding and guide consumers toward healthier portion size choices. A search of seven databases (2010 to April 2019) provided the records for title and abstract screening, with relevant articles assessed for eligibility in the full-text. Fourteen articles met the inclusion criteria, with relevant data extracted by one reviewer and checked for consistency by a second reviewer. Twelve studies were conducted in North America, where the government regulates serving size information. Several studies reported a poor understanding of serving size labelling. Indeed, consumers interpreted the labelled serving size as a recommended serving for dietary guidelines for healthy eating rather than a typical consumption unit, which is set by the manufacturer or regulated in some countries such as in the U.S. and Canada. Not all studies assessed consumption; however, larger labelled serving sizes resulted in larger self-selected portion sizes in three studies. However, another study performed on confectionary reported the opposite effect, with larger labelled serving sizes leading to reduced consumption. The limited number of included studies showed that labelled serving size affects portion size selection and consumption, and that any labelled serving size format changes may result in increased portion size selection, energy intake and thus contribute to the rise of the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Research to test cross-continentally labelled serving size format changes within experimental and natural settings (e.g., at home) are needed. In addition, tailored, comprehensive and serving-size-specific food literacy initiatives need to be evaluated to provide recommendations for effective serving size labelling. This is required to ensure the correct understanding of nutritional content, as well as informing food choices and consumption, for both core foods and discretionary foods.

scholarly journals Development of an online database of typical food portion sizes in Irish population groups

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Lyons ◽  
Janette Walton ◽  
Albert Flynn
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Assessment ◽  
Portion Size ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Irish Population ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Portion Sizes ◽  
Food Portion ◽  
Adolescents And Adults ◽  
Typical Food

AbstractThe Irish Food Portion Sizes Database (available at www.iuna.net) describes typical portion weights for an extensive range of foods and beverages for Irish children, adolescents and adults. The present paper describes the methodologies used to develop the database and some key characteristics of the portion weight data contained therein. The data are derived from three large, cross-sectional food consumption surveys carried out in Ireland over the last decade: the National Children's Food Survey (2003–2004), National Teens' Food Survey (2005–2006) and National Adult Nutrition Survey (2008–2010). Median, 25th and 75th percentile portion weights are described for a total of 545 items across the three survey groups, split by age group or sex as appropriate. The typical (median) portion weights reported for adolescents and adults are similar for many foods, while those reported for children are notably smaller. Adolescent and adult males generally consume larger portions than their female counterparts, though similar portion weights may be consumed where foods are packaged in unit amounts (for example, pots of yoghurt). The inclusion of energy under-reporters makes little difference to the estimation of typical portion weights in adults. The data have wide-ranging applications in dietary assessment and food labelling, and will serve as a useful reference against which to compare future portion size data from the Irish population. The present paper provides a useful context for researchers and others wishing to use the Irish Food Portion Sizes Database, and may guide researchers in other countries in establishing similar databases of their own.

scholarly journals Snack Portion Sizes for Preschool Children Are Predicted by Caregiver Portion Size, Caregiver Feeding Practices and Children′s Eating Traits

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3020
Author(s):  
Sophie Reale ◽  
Rebecca M. Simpson ◽  
Colette Marr ◽  
Sharon A. Carstairs ◽  
Joanne E. Cecil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Portion Size ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Nutrient Density ◽  
Portion Sizes ◽  
Food Liking

Caregivers are mostly responsible for the foods young children consume; however, it is unknown how caregivers determine what portion sizes to serve. This study examined factors which predict smaller or larger than recommended snack portion sizes in an online survey. Caregivers of children aged 2 to 4 years were presented with 10 snack images, each photographed in six portion sizes. Caregivers (n = 659) selected the portion they would usually serve themselves and their child for an afternoon snack. Information on child eating traits, parental feeding practices and demographics were provided by caregivers. Most caregivers selected portions in line with recommended amounts for preschool children, demonstrating their ability to match portion sizes to their child′s energy requirements. However, 16% of caregivers selected smaller than recommended low energy-dense (LED, e.g., fruits and vegetables) snacks for their child which was associated with smaller caregiver′s own portion size, reduced child food liking and increased satiety responsiveness. In contrast, 28% of caregivers selected larger than recommended amounts of high energy-dense (HED, e.g., cookies, crisps) snacks for their child which were associated with larger caregiver′s own portion size, greater frequency of consumption, higher child body mass index (BMI), greater pressure to eat and lower child food liking. These findings suggest that most caregivers in this study select portions adjusted to suit their child′s age and stage of development. Future interventions could provide support to caregivers regarding the energy and nutrient density of foods given the relatively small portion sizes of LED and large portions of HED snacks offered to some children.

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