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Weight status moderates the relationship between package size and food intake
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
|February 22, 2014
Summary
Single-serving packages (SSPs) reduced pretzel consumption in overweight/obese individuals compared to standard packages (STPs). Dietary restraint did not influence this effect, suggesting SSPs may aid weight management.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral nutrition
- Obesity research
- Consumer psychology
Background:
- Portion control is a strategy for managing food intake.
- Overweight/obese individuals and those dieting may be more sensitive to external cues like package size.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if package size (single-serving vs. standard) affects food consumption.
- To determine if weight status (normal vs. overweight/obese) and dietary restraint influence this effect.
Main Methods:
- A 2x2x2 between-subjects design was used with 64 participants.
- Participants received 20 oz pretzels in either single-serving packages (SSPs) or standard packages (STPs) for 4 days.
- Consumption was measured by package weight difference.
Main Results:
- A significant interaction was found between package size and weight status (P=0.01).
- Overweight/obese participants consumed significantly less from SSPs (107.0g) than STPs (204.4g).
- No significant effect of dietary restraint on consumption was observed.
Conclusions:
- Single-serving packages (SSPs) can reduce food intake in overweight/obese individuals.
- Replacing standard packages (STPs) with SSPs may be a viable strategy for reducing consumption in this population.
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