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Portion Size and To-go Container on Dinner Intake

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Eating Behavior
Obesity
Interventions
Behavioral: To-Go container
Other: Control
Registration Number
NCT03502096
Lead Sponsor
Penn State University
Brief Summary

This study investigated whether the provision of a to-go container influenced the portion size effect at a meal. Following a screening visit, women came to the lab once a week for 4 weeks to eat a meal of multiple foods. At each visit, the portion size of the meal was varied in a counterbalanced order. Prior to their first meal, women were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a group that would have their leftovers packaged to go (to-go group) and a group that did not have leftovers packaged (control group). Women were instructed to eat ad libitum at the meals. They also answered questions about hunger and fullness as well as food characteristics before and after each meal. Following the final meal, subjects completed a series of questionnaires assessing subject characteristics as well as food characteristics. It was hypothesized that the effect of portion size on intake would be attenuated in subjects who received a to-go container with the meal. In addition, we aimed to identify any subject characteristics that moderated or exacerbated the portion size effect. It was also of interest to determine whether the portion size effect on individual foods were influenced by food characteristics such as perceived value.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
58
Inclusion Criteria
  • Regularly eats 3 meals/day
  • Willing to avoid alcohol the day before and during test days
  • Likes foods offered at test meals
  • Body mass index 18 - 36 (kg/m*m)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Smokes
  • Athlete in training
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Taking medication that may affect appetite or food intake
  • Food allergies or dietary restrictions
  • Currently have or recently been diagnosed with disease or disorder known to affect appetite

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
100% portion sizeTo-Go container100% portion sizes of all foods served (baseline). To-go container and controls received this meal.
100% portion sizeControl100% portion sizes of all foods served (baseline). To-go container and controls received this meal.
125% portion sizeTo-Go container125% of baseline portions served. To-go container and controls received this meal.
125% portion sizeControl125% of baseline portions served. To-go container and controls received this meal.
150% portion sizeTo-Go container150% of baseline portions served. To-go container and controls received this meal.
150% portion sizeControl150% of baseline portions served. To-go container and controls received this meal.
175% portion sizeTo-Go container175% of baseline portions served. To-go container and controls received this meal.
175% portion sizeControl175% of baseline portions served. To-go container and controls received this meal.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in the weight of food consumedWeeks 1, 2, 3, and 4

Change in the weight of food consumed (in grams) across experimental conditions and intervention groups.

Change in energy intakeWeeks 1, 2, 3, and 4

Change in energy intake (in kcal) across experimental conditions and intervention groups.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in post-meal measures of satietyWeeks 1, 2, 3, and 4

Changes in post-meal measures of satiety across experimental conditions and intervention groups using 100-mm visual analog scales.

Changes in post-meal ratings of meal characteristicsWeeks 1, 2, 3, and 4

Changes in post-meal ratings of meal characteristics across experimental conditions and between subject groups using 100-mm visual analog scales.

Changes in ratings of food propertiesWeeks 1, 2, 3, and 4

Changes in post-meal ratings of food properties across experimental conditions and subject groups using 100-mm visual analog scales.

Change in energy density consumedWeeks 1, 2, 3, and 4

Change in food energy density consumed (in kcal/g) across experimental conditions and intervention groups.

Change in intake of individual foodsWeeks 1, 2, 3, and 4

Change in both the weight (g) and energy (kcal) consumed of individual foods served at the meal across experimental conditions and intervention groups.

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