ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON INTAKE IN PRE-SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The epidemic of overweight among children underscores the need to identify contributing environmental factors. marketplace trends for excessive and growing protion sizes have reinforced concerns that large portions may directly contribute to this problem by promoting excessive intake. Empirical investigation of portion size effects on children's eating are limited. Two studies have demonstrated effects of large portions to stimulate energy intake at meals. The scope and nature of such effects, however, remains unclear. The proposed research involves a series of four portion size experiments to be conducted with pre-school aged children. The first three experiments will evaluate the scope of portion size effects by determining: the effect of portion size on children's consumption of sweetened beverages, the effect of portion size on children's fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, and the combined effects of portion size and energy density on children's energy consumption. In an effort to address mechanism, the fourth experiment will evauate the effects of portion size and plate size on eating duration, bite size, and bite frequency. The results of this basic behavioral investigation may be used to infrom the design of long-term studies on the effects of protion size on children's energy consumption and weight. Further, these basic research findings may also be used to develop interventions aimed at modifying potentially obesigenic aspects of young children's environments.