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A review of evidence supporting current strategies, challenges, and opportunities to reduce portion sizes.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Almiron-Roig, Eva 
Forde, Ciaran G 
Hollands, Gareth J 
Vargas, M Ángeles 
Brunstrom, Jeffrey M 

Abstract

Although there is considerable evidence for the portion-size effect and its potential impact on health, much of this has not been successfully applied to help consumers reduce portion sizes. The objective of this review is to provide an update on the strength of evidence supporting strategies with potential to reduce portion sizes across individuals and eating contexts. Three levels of action are considered: food-level strategies (targeting commercial snack and meal portion sizes, packaging, food labels, tableware, and food sensory properties), individual-level strategies (targeting eating rate and bite size, portion norms, plate-cleaning tendencies, and cognitive processes), and population approaches (targeting the physical, social, and economic environment and health policy). Food- and individual-level strategies are associated with small to moderate effects; however, in isolation, none seem to have sufficient impact on food intake to reverse the portion-size effect and its consequences. Wider changes to the portion-size environment will be necessary to support individual- and food-level strategies leading to portion control.

Description

Keywords

downsizing, eating behavior, eating context, obesity, portion-size effect, Energy Intake, Feeding Behavior, Female, Food Labeling, Humans, Male, Obesity, Portion Size

Journal Title

Nutr Rev

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0029-6643
1753-4887

Volume Title

78

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
EAR and MAV are supported by the Centre for Nutrition Research, University of Navarra and by the Government of Navarra (project grant n. PT028 “PORTIONS”). JMB is supported by the EU Seventh Framework Programme, Nudge-it [grant number 607310]. EAR also acknowledges support from the Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. Declaration of interests: EAR has received a donation of portion control tools for research from Precise Portions NLS in the past.