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Plate size does not affect perception of food portion size
F R O Penaforte1, C C Japur, R W Diez-Garcia
1Department of Nutrition, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil; Laboratory of Eating Practices and Behavior (PratiCA), Course of Nutrition and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
Summary
Plate size did not alter perceived food quantity, but larger plates led participants to classify portions as larger. This suggests visual illusions influence portion size perception.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Nutrition Science
- Sensory Science
Background:
- Larger utensils may create 'size-contrast illusions,' affecting perceived food volume and consumption.
- Understanding these illusions is key to managing food intake and portion control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how plate size influences the visual estimation of food portion sizes.
- To determine if plate diameter affects perceived food quantity and classification.
Main Methods:
- Participants visually estimated the quantity (g) of 400g pasta portions on plates of 24.0cm and 9.0cm diameters.
- Subjects classified portion sizes as 'small,' 'medium,' or 'large.'
- Statistical analysis included Mann-Whitney and chi-squared tests.
Main Results:
- No significant difference was found in the median estimated amount of pasta between large and small plates.
- A significantly greater percentage of participants classified portions as 'large' on the larger plate (47.9%) compared to the smaller plate (22.9%).
Conclusions:
- Plate size does not influence the objective estimation of food portion quantities.
- However, plate size significantly impacts the subjective classification of portion size, indicating a visual perception effect.
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