The effects of different portion sizes on child food consumption and satiety: an exploratory study

• Published in: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 2024-11, Vol.83 (OCE4)
• Main Authors: Acolatse, L., Logue, C., Pourshahidi, L. K., McCann, M.T., Kerr, M.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Appetite; Breakfast cereals; Children; Children & youth; Childrens health; Downsizing; Energy intake; Food; Food consumption; Food intake; Obesity; Puffed rice; Ratings; Satiety; Size effects; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 0029-6651; 1475-2719
• DOI: 10.1017/S0029665124005457

The consumption of larger food portion size(s) (PS) can result in overconsumption and a reduced ability to self-regulate appetite, which has been implicated in the rising prevalence of childhood obesity globally(1). Larger PS of food have sustained effects on energy intake in children(2–4), which has been attributed to the ‘portion size effect’, where more food is consumed when larger quantities are offered(4). This study aimed to explore 3 different PS of a breakfast meal on consumption and satiety levels of children aged 7-10 years. Parents with their children (n 25) were invited to participate in a within-subject, repeated measures, randomised cross-over study, to compare the PS of a typically consumed breakfast meal (ready-to-eat breakfast cereal [flakes, puffed rice or hoops] with milk) consumed by children under three different PS conditions: self-serve (SS) of typical PS; 25% than SS, with at least 3 days between each experimental PS condition. The children were provided with a 10cm visual analogue scale to rate satiety post-consumption. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess differences between the PS consumed and satiety ratings, with paired samples ttests used to compare differences between PS conditions. Total PS of the breakfast meal consumed was greatest in the SS condition, followed by the >25% than SS with the least PS consumed in the