Portion size effects on daily energy intake in low-income Hispanic and African American children and their mothers

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 86; no. 6; pp. 1709 - 1716
• Main Authors: Fisher, Jennifer O, Arreola, Angeles, Birch, Leann L, Rolls, Barbara J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Clinical Nutrition 01.12.2007; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: African Americans; Biological and medical sciences; Black or African American; Child, Preschool; children; Children & youth; energy intake; Energy Intake - ethnology; Energy Intake - physiology; ethnology; etiology; Feeding Behavior; Feeding Behavior - ethnology; Feeding Behavior - physiology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; food choices; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic or Latino; Hispanic people; Humans; Low income groups; low income households; Male; Meals; Mothers; Nutrition; obesity; Obesity - etiology; physiology; portion size; Poverty; Urban Population; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Human; energy intake; Obesity; Feeding behavior; Size; Nutrition disorder; eating behavior; Daily; Energy; Mother; Low; Portion size; Child; Nutritional status; African American
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/86.5.1709

Portion size influences children's energy intakes at meals, but effects on daily intake are unknown. Effects of large portions on daily energy intake were tested in 5-y-old Hispanic and African American children from low-income families. Maternal food intake data were collected to evaluate familial susceptibility to portion size. A within-subjects experimental design with reference and large portion sizes was used in a study of 59 low-income Hispanic and African American preschool-aged children and their mothers. The portion size of 3 entrées (lunch, dinner, and breakfast) and an afternoon snack served during a 24-h period were of a reference size in one condition and doubled in the other condition. Portion sizes of other foods and beverages did not vary across conditions. Weighed food intake, anthropometric measures, and self-reported data were obtained. Doubling the portion size of several entrées and a snack served during a 24-h period increased energy intake from those foods by 23% (180 kcal) among children (P < 0.0001) and by 21% (270 kcal) among mothers (P < 0.0001). Child and maternal energy intakes from other foods for which portion size was not altered did not differ across conditions. Consequently, total energy intakes in the large-portion condition were 12% (P < 0.001) and 6% (P < 0.01) higher in children and mothers, respectively, than in the reference condition. Child and maternal intakes of the portion-manipulated foods were not correlated. Large portions may contribute to obesigenic dietary environments by promoting excess daily intakes among Hispanic and African American children.