ResearchCurrent ResearchLarger Portion Sizes Lead to a Sustained Increase in Energy Intake Over 2 Days
Section snippets
Subjects
Subjects were recruited by notices in flyers and newspapers in the university community. Potential subjects were interviewed by telephone to ensure they met the following criteria: nonsmoking adults in good health between age 19 and 45 years, not dieting to gain or lose weight, not in athletic training, not pregnant or breastfeeding, not taking medications known to affect appetite, no food allergies or dislikes for the entrées and desserts served in the study, and regularly consuming three
Energy Intake
Total energy intake for the 2 days increased as portion size increased in both women and men (Figure 2;P<0.0001). In the baseline condition of portion size, women consumed 64% and men consumed 77% of the energy in the food and snacks that they were served. Baseline energy intakes did not differ significantly from estimated energy requirements; intake was a mean of 104% of energy needs. When portions were increased by 50% above baseline amounts, energy intake increased by 16% (335 kcal/day for
Discussion
This study demonstrates that increasing the portion size of all foods and beverages results in an increase in energy intake beyond physiologic requirements that is sustained over 2 days. A 50% increase in portion sizes led to a 16% increase in energy intake (669 kcal over 2 days for women; 1,059 kcal over 2 days for men), and a 100% increase in portion sizes led to a 26% increase in intake (1,009 kcal over 2 days for women; 1,624 kcal over 2 days for men). Larger portions led to increased
Conclusions
The results of this study show that increasing the portion size of all foods and beverages results in an increase in energy intake that is sustained over 2 days, with no evidence of an adjustment in food consumption over this time. The effect of increased portion size has the potential to lead to intake that is substantially in excess of energy needs in the short term, even if some compensation may occur over the longer term. Increased portion size is only one of many influences in the eating
B. J. Rolls is a professor and the Guthrie Chair in Nutritional Sciences, L. S. Roe is a research nutritionist, and J. S. Meengs is a laboratory manager, Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park.
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B. J. Rolls is a professor and the Guthrie Chair in Nutritional Sciences, L. S. Roe is a research nutritionist, and J. S. Meengs is a laboratory manager, Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park.