Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
05:57
Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats
Published on: June 27, 2014
Children's preference for large portions: prevalence, determinants, and consequences.
Cynthia K Colapinto1, Angela Fitzgerald, L Janette Taper
1Health Promotion Division, Sudbury & District Health Unit, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association
|July 3, 2007
Summary
Children often choose larger portions of unhealthy snacks, contributing to poor diet quality and increased energy intake. Promoting appropriate portion sizes is key to preventing childhood obesity and improving health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Rising childhood obesity rates are linked to increased availability of large food portions.
- This study examines the prevalence, causes, and effects of large portion sizes in children's diets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate children's preferences for food portion sizes.
- To identify factors influencing children's large portion size choices.
- To evaluate the impact of large portion sizes on children's energy intake, diet quality, and weight status.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 4,966 children using 3D food models to assess portion sizes of key foods.
- Measured children's height and weight.
- Assessed dietary intake and quality using validated questionnaires and the Diet Quality Index International (DQI-I).
- Utilized multilevel regression to analyze determinants and consequences of portion size selection.
Main Results:
- Children preferred larger portions of french fries, meats, and potato chips, and smaller portions of vegetables.
- Socioeconomic disadvantage, frequent television viewing, and fast-food consumption were associated with larger portions of fries and chips.
- Large portions of unhealthy foods led to poor diet quality and higher energy intake.
- Large vegetable portions were linked to lower energy intake and better diet quality.
Conclusions:
- Marketing of large portions of unhealthy foods negatively impacts children's diet quality and energy balance.
- Policy interventions and nutrition education focusing on appropriate portion sizes are crucial for obesity prevention and health improvement.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Regulation of Food Intake
Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
01:10Nature and Nurture
Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
01:20Taste Buds and Receptors
Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
01:30Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...