Portion Size And Children's Food Intakes

Nutrition Research Newsletter, March, 2000

Larger portion sizes could be contributing to the increasing prevalence of overweight among adults and children in America today. During the early stages of life, eating occurs primarily in response to hunger. By adulthood, eating is also influenced by environmental cues such as the presence of palatable food, time of day, and social context. Americans have come to expect large portion sizes and researchers are currently attempting to link larger portion sizes with increased food intake. Although there have been some studies of this nature conducted on adult populations, there have been no studies to systematically examine the influence of portion size on food intake in children. For children who have learned to respond to environmental cues, very large portion sizes may elicit overeating and consequent weight gain. A recent study tested the hypothesis that the effects of portion size on children's food intake will be greater for five-year-old than for three-year-old children.

Thirty-two preschool children enrolled in the study. The children were in two classrooms of a day-care program at the Pennsylvania State University Child Development Laboratory. One class had 18 children with a mean age of 3.6 years, and the other class had 16 children with a mean age of 5 years. The children participated in three sessions, held at their usual lunch time in their usual lunch setting. A lunch consisting of macaroni and cheese varying in portion size (small, medium, large), carrot sticks, applesauce, and milk was given to each child. All portions were presented in the same size bowl. All foods were weighed before and after lunch to determine consumption. The children's hunger and their preference for macaroni and cheese were determined before and after lunch using cartoon drawings.

Hunger ratings for the meals did not differ by age or condition, and the children found the macaroni and cheese to be acceptable. Older preschoolers consumed more macaroni and cheese when served larger portions. Younger children did not alter their food intake according to portion size, consuming similar amounts across all three conditions. Researchers conclude that by the end of the preschool period, the amount of food offered influences children's food intake. This indicates that as children develop, their food intake is increasingly affected by a variety of social, cultural, and environmental factors. The potential effect of increased portion sizes on food intakes needs to be explored further. Portion size may very well be implicated in the development of overweight. The early years may provide a unique opportunity for interventions that reduce the risk of developing overweight.

B. Rolls, D. Engell, L. Birch, Serving Portion Size Influences 5-Year-Old but Not 3-Year-Old Children's Food Intakes, JADA 100 (2): 232-234 (February. 2000) [Correspondence: Barbara J. Rolls, PhD, Pennsylvania State University, 226 Henderson Bldg., University Park, PA 16802.]