Using the Norm Range to Predict the Effect of Food Portion Size Reductions on Compensation
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Liverpool
- Enrollment
- 39
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Acute compensatory energy intake
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Reducing food portion size is a potential strategy to reduce energy intake. However it is unclear at what point consumers compensate for reductions in portion size by increasing energy intake from other items. This could result in no overall benefit of reducing food portion sizes. The investigators tested the hypothesis that reductions to the portion size of components of a main meal will only result in significant compensatory eating when the reduced portion size is no longer visually perceived as 'normal'. In a crossover experiment, participants were served different sized portions during lunch and dinner over 5 days: a 'large-normal', a 'small-normal', and a 'smaller than normal' portion. Intake from all other meal components consumed in the laboratory were measured.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Crossover
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Single (Participant)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 60 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •willing to consume the test foods
- •BMI between 22.5 - 32.5
Exclusion Criteria
- •food allergies, intolerances or specific dietary requirements (including being vegetarian or vegan)
- •history of eating disorders
- •taking medication which affected appetite
- •participated in a portion size studies in the past 12 months, or in dieting or weight loss trials in the past 4 weeks
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Acute compensatory energy intake
Time Frame: Immediate (within single meal occasion)
Energy intake from main meal components that are not varied by portion size
Total meal energy intake
Time Frame: Immediate (within single meal occasion)
Energy intake from all main meal components (including those that are and are not varied by portion size)
Total daily energy intake
Time Frame: Over 5 x full days
Energy intake from all foods consumed, including those provided in the laboratory and those self-reported
Secondary Outcomes
- Appetite(Over 5 x full days (measured before and after each meal occasion))
- Discretionary Leisure-time physical activity(Over 5 x full days)
- Moderate-vigorous physical activity(Over 5 x full days)
Investigators
Eric Robinson
Reader in Psychological Sciences
University of Liverpool