Foods commonly eaten in the United States, 1989-1991 and 1994-1996: Are portion sizes changing?

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Abstract

Objective To compare quantities consumed per eating occasion in 1989-1991 and 1994-1996 was the objective of this study. Design This study was a comparison over time. Subjects/setting Subjects were respondents in the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) in 1989-1991 or 1994-1996. Intake data were processed and analyzed to provide estimates of amounts of commonly eaten foods consumed per eating occasion. Statistical analyses performed Approximate t tests were used to compare quantities of foods consumed by 1989-1991 and 1994-1996 survey respondents. Analyses were conducted for all persons aged 2 years and over and for 10 age and sex groups. Significance was set at .001. Results Significant differences in amounts consumed were reported for approximately one third of the 107 foods examined. Larger amounts were reported in 1994-1996 by all persons aged 2 years and over and selected age/sex subgroups for several foods including soft drinks, coffee, tea, and ready-to-eat cereal. Smaller amounts were reported for fewer foods: margarine, mayonnaise, chicken, macaroni and cheese, and pizza. Applications/conclusions Amounts of foods consumed per eating occasion are widely used for the formation of public policy, counseling, and dietary assessment. Changes in amounts consumed should be monitored to evaluate the need for revisions in policy and diet assessment protocols. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103:41-47.

Section snippets

Sample

Estimates of portion sizes were based on intakes by individuals aged 2 years and older who provided all requested days of dietary intake information for the CSFII 1989-1991 and CSFII 1994-1996. For CSFII 1989-1991, intakes were collected on three consecutive days, with a 24-hour recall on the first day followed by day 2 and day 3 records. For CSFII 1994-1996, two nonconsecutive 24-hour recalls were collected 3 to 10 days apart, not on the same day of the week. The surveys have been described in

Results

Significant differences in portion sizes (ie, amounts consumed per eating occasion) were reported in 1989-1991 and 1994-1996 for about one third of the 107 foods/food types that were examined. Foods with significantly different portion sizes are shown in both Table 1 and Table 2. Table 1 presents data on portion sizes consumed by the total population 2 years of age and older. Table 2 presents data by age and sex groups to see whether differences in amounts consumed were consistent across the

Discussion

The purpose of this report was to compare the quantities of portion sizes of commonly eaten foods reported in CSFII 1989-1991 and 1994-1996. Several public health and food marketing trends provide a strong argument for examining trends in portion sizes over time. A major public health concern is the increasing prevalence of overweight in the United States [31], [32], [33]. Several investigators have shown that food portion sizes are positively related to energy intake in children and adults [13]

Applications

■Portion size data available from national surveys are widely used for formation of public policy for counseling and dietary guidance of individuals. The findings in this study indicate that portion sizes have changed in recent years for many commonly eaten foods. Some of the changes can adversely affect nutritional well-being and public health of Americans. Some of the changes reflect a marketplace that promotes larger portions. The challenge to dietitians and other healthcare providers is to

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    This work was funded by a Cooperative Agreement (58-1235-8-088) between the Pennsylvania State University and Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.

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