Plate Clearing and Body Mass Index: A Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Modern food environments promote larger portion sizes, potentially increasing overall food consumption.
• The practice of 'plate clearing' (finishing entire portions) is hypothesized to contribute to weight gain.
• Existing research on the link between plate clearing and body mass index (BMI) shows inconsistent results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis examining the correlation between plate clearing tendencies and body mass index.
• To synthesize findings from multiple studies to determine the overall relationship.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis was performed on data from 22 independent samples.
• Statistical analysis, including meta-regression, was used to assess the pooled effect and identify potential moderators.

Main Results:

• The overall pooled effect (r = 0.04) indicated no significant relationship between plate clearing and BMI.
• Meta-regression revealed that the proportion of women in a study sample and the specific self-report measure used moderated the effect.
• A small positive association may exist for men and when using the Plate Clearing Tendency Scale.

Conclusions:

• Habitual plate clearing is not generally associated with higher body weight.
• The lack of a clear association warrants further investigation into contributing factors.
• Self-report biases may influence findings, but the absence of a robust link is notable.