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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Concept Development and Use of an Automated Food Intake and Eating Behavior Assessment Method

Concept Development and Use of an Automated Food Intake and Eating Behavior Assessment Method

Published on: February 19, 2021

Mechanisms behind the portion size effect: visibility and bite size.

Kyle S Burger¹, Jennifer O Fisher, Susan L Johnson

¹Department of Pediatrics, Section of Nutrition, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, USA.

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)

|October 16, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Larger food portions increase energy intake, primarily by increasing bite size, not visual cues. This portion size effect is more pronounced in overweight individuals.

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Area of Science:

Nutrition Science
Human Physiology
Behavioral Science

Background:

The portion size effect, where larger portions lead to increased energy intake, is well-documented but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
Potential contributing factors include visual cues and changes in eating behaviors like bite size.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the roles of bite size and visual cues in mediating the portion size effect on energy intake.
To determine if visual cues influence the relationship between portion size and energy consumption.

Main Methods:

A 2x2 within-subject design was employed, testing portion size (410g vs. 820g) and visual condition (blindfolded vs. visible) in 30 participants.
Energy intake, bite size, meal duration, palatability, hunger, and fullness were assessed across four experimental conditions.

Main Results:

Doubling portion size increased energy intake by 26% (220 kcal) and mean bite size by 2.4g/bite.
Overweight individuals consumed significantly more with larger portions, unlike lean individuals.
Blindfolding participants reduced intake by 12% (122 kcal) but did not alter the portion size effect.

Conclusions:

The portion size effect is primarily driven by changes in bite size, not by visual cues from the food.
Visual cues do not significantly modulate the portion size effect in adults.
Interventions targeting bite size may be more effective in managing energy intake related to portion sizes.