Portion control tableware differentially impacts eating behaviour in women with and without overweight

Area of Science:

• Nutrition science
• Behavioral science
• Weight management

Background:

• Portion control tableware is a potential weight management tool.
• Mechanisms of action for portion control plates are not well understood.
• Visual stimuli on plates may influence eating behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how a calibrated portion control plate with visual stimuli affects food intake, satiety, and eating behavior.
• To investigate the role of visual cues in modulating meal consumption.
• To understand the physiological responses to using portion control tableware.

Main Methods:

• A counterbalanced cross-over trial involving 65 women (34 with overweight/obesity).
• Participants self-served and consumed a meal using either a calibrated plate or a conventional plate.
• Blood samples were collected from a sub-sample to measure cephalic phase responses.

Main Results:

• The calibrated plate significantly reduced overall meal portion sizes and consumed rice.
• Bite size was significantly reduced for all women using the calibrated plate.
• Eating rate decreased with the calibrated plate, particularly in lean women.

Conclusions:

• Portion control plates with visual stimuli can reduce meal size and modify eating behavior, potentially aiding weight management.
• Reduced self-served portions and smaller bite sizes contribute to decreased intake.
• Sustained use of portion control tableware may be necessary for achieving long-term weight management outcomes.