How does plate size affect estimated satiation and intake for individuals in normal-weight and overweight groups?

Abstract

SummaryObjectiveManipulating plate sizes could possibly introduce perceptual biases for judging food satiation and intake, which is thought to be related to the Delbeouf illusion – a visual illusion based on the perceived size of one object related to another. This study was to investigate whether an association exists between an individual's susceptibility to the plate‐size‐effect and their weight status (i.e. normal‐weight versus overweight).MethodsThe study assessed the effect of plate size amongst normal‐weight (N = 124) and overweight (N = 79) New Zealand Europeans. All participants were asked to rate estimated satiation (ES) and intake (EI) on Visual Analogue Scales for 20 food images, which comprised photographs of ten different dishes placed on large versus small plates. These responses were analysed by mixed‐model ANCOVA.ResultsThe results showed that the plate size had significant effects on ES (F (1, 1986) = 19.14, p < 0.001) and EI (F (1,1986) = 5.25; p = 0.048), with the small plate associated with higher ES and lower EI than the large plate. Significant differences in ES and EI were also evident across the weight groups (ES: F (1,1986) = 4.26, p = 0.039; EI: F (1,1986) = 42.22, p < 0.001), with the normal‐weight group reported higher ES and lower EI than the overweight group. Furthermore, the weight group and the plate‐size‐effect were found to be involved in a significant interaction for EI. Post‐hoc tests showed that the plate size only had a significant effect for the normal‐weight group (p < 0.05), but not for the overweight group.ConclusionsOverall, the study demonstrated that the normal‐weight and overweight group differed in their susceptibilities to the plate‐size‐effect (reflected by EI). This study revealed some potential moderators for the plate‐size‐effect, such as the type of dish, and its associated appeal and familiarity, and provided useful indications about the effectiveness of small plates for food reduction.

A review of evidence supporting current strategies, challenges, and opportunities to reduce portion sizes

“…Observations may also be further moderated by BMI, because overweight participants are likely to select smaller portions for social desirability reasons 95 . A more recent study 135 considered the impact of different plate sizes on expected satiation and expected consumption in overweight and lean adults. The authors found that a smaller plate generated higher expected satiation and lower predicted intake, but only in lean participants.…”

El Tamaño del Plato no Afecta la Ingesta Energética de Personas con Sobrepeso y Obesidad

“…En el caso de participantes del presente estudio con sobrepeso y obesidad, hombres y mujeres no mostraron diferencia en su comportamiento. Esta evidencia supone que las personas con normopeso parecieran tener mayor capacidad de estimación que las personas con sobrepeso y obesidad (Peng, 2017). Ya se ha mencionado que existen diferencias en la estimación calórica en hombres y mujeres (Carels, Konrad y Harper;.…”

“…Otro estudio examinó el efecto de dos tamaños de plato (27 cm y 23 cm) sobre la saciación e ingesta calórica en personas con normopeso y sobrepeso a partir de un cuestionario que contenía fotografías de diez diferentes comidas. Las personas con normopeso reportaron mayor nivel de saciación y menor ingesta que las personas con sobrepeso (Peng, 2017).…”

“…Experimental studies that investigated whether container size, including plates, influences the total energy intake generated contradictory results (Koh & Pliner, 2009;Libotte et al, 2014;Pratt et al, 2012;Robinson et al, 2015;Rolls et al, 2004;Rolls, Roe, Halverson, & Meengs, 2007;Shah, Schroeder, Winn, & Adams-Huet, 2011;Wadhera & Capaldi-Phillips, 2014). Separately from environmental factors, other qualities of individuals (such as sex and body mass index -BMI) have been shown to be leading in behaviors relating to food portion decisions (Ayaz, Akyol, Cetin, & Besler, 2016;Peng, 2017). Two experiments were carried out to compare the effect of two plate sizes on a meal's energy intake in laboratory situation in 55 young adults aged 18 to 26.…”

“…In the case of the present study overweight and obese participants, men and women, showed no difference in their behavior. This evidence implies that people with normal weight seem to have greater ability to estimate that people who are overweight and obese (Peng, 2017). There are various factors involved in the estimation of the size of an object: the distance which is just who made the estimate, the shape of the object, lighting, and the size of the object that is in the background (Matlin & Foley, 1996).…”