Intake Promoting Effects of Large Portions in Children

NCT ID: NCT00436878

Last Updated: 2018-07-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 100 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2005-10-31
• Study Completion Date: 2011-04-30

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to test the effects of large food portions on children's eating. Experiment 1 will test the effect of portion size on children's consumption of sweetened beverages; we hypothesize that serving large beverage portions will increase the amount of energy children consume from this food. Experiment 2 will test the effects of portion size on children's intake of fruits and vegetables (FV) affect intake whether such effects are moderated by children's FV preferences and; we hypothesize that serving large fruit and vegetable portions will produce increases in children's intake of these foods, particularly for children who like fruit and vegetables. Experiment 3 will evaluate how food energy density affects children's response to large portions; we hypothesize that large portions will have the greatest influence on children's energy consumption when foods are energy dense. Experiment 4 will begin to address perceptual mechanisms by which large portions affect children's eating.

Detailed Description

The emerging epidemic of overweight among underscores the need to identify contributing environmental factors. Marketplace trends for excessive and growing portion sizes in and outside the home have reinforced concerns that large portions may directly contribute by promoting excessive intake. To date, however, systematic investigation of portion size effects on children's eating has been extremely limited. Two laboratory studies have reported that serving large portions of macaroni and cheese to young children promoted energy consumption at meals. Whether portion size effects would be seen with other foods of varying energy content and preference is unknown. Of particular public health interest is whether serving large portions may affect children's intake of sweetened beverages, fruits and vegetables, and energy dense foods. This study will address these questions using an experimental approach to test the effects of portion size on children's eating.

Conditions

Eating

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Portion Size

Each experiment manipulated food portion size of beverages, entrees, and side dishes

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Food portion size

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Each of four experiments involves a 2 x 2 within-subjects factorial design, in which the first factor is the portion size of a food served to children: foods will be served in a reference amount (i.e. 250 g macaroni and cheese) or doubled in size(i.e. 500 g of macaroni and cheese). In the Experiment 1, the second factor of the 2 x 2 design is meal type: whether the food is consumed at a meal or a snack. In experiment #2, the second factor is food type: fruit vs. vegetable. In experiment #3, the second factor is entree energy density: a regular energy density or a 40% greater energy density. In experiment #4, the second factor is plate size: a 6 inch plate vs. a 10 inch plate.

Interventions

Food portion size

Each of four experiments involves a 2 x 2 within-subjects factorial design, in which the first factor is the portion size of a food served to children: foods will be served in a reference amount (i.e. 250 g macaroni and cheese) or doubled in size(i.e. 500 g of macaroni and cheese). In the Experiment 1, the second factor of the 2 x 2 design is meal type: whether the food is consumed at a meal or a snack. In experiment #2, the second factor is food type: fruit vs. vegetable. In experiment #3, the second factor is entree energy density: a regular energy density or a 40% greater energy density. In experiment #4, the second factor is plate size: a 6 inch plate vs. a 10 inch plate.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 5 to 6 years

Exclusion Criteria

• severe food allergies
• chronic illnesses or medication use affecting food intake
• dislike of foods on the menu

• Minimum Eligible Age: 5 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 6 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Temple University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Jennifer O Fisher, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Baylor College of Medicine

Locations

Center for Obesity Research, Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

USDA\ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center

Houston, Texas, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

R01DK071095

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

DK71095

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id