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. ABSTRACT 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. HYPOTHESIS 1. Serving large portions of sweetened beverages at meals or snacks will result in increases in sweetened beverage consumption among 5 to 6 yeasr-old children relative to intake in a reference condition. 2. Serving large portions of FV at meals will result in increases in FV consumption among 5 to 6 year-old children, relative to reference conditions. 3. High energy density will act additively with large portion size to increase energy intake among 5 to 6 year-old children, relative to reference conditions. 4. Serving large portions are expected to produce increases in average bite size among 5 to 6 year-old children, relative to a reference condition. 5. Children will perceive a given portion as being larger when served on a smaller plate and will eat less than when the same portion is served on a larger plate. SPECIFIC AIMS Four experiments will be conducted to address 5 specific aims as follows: 1. To determine the effects of large portions of sweetened beverages on young children's intake (Experiment 1) 2. To determine the effects of large portions of FVs on young children's intake of those foods (Experiment 2) 3. To evaluate the combined effects of large portions and energy dense foods on young children's energy intake (Experiment 3) 4. To identify portion size effects on eating duration, eating rate, bite size, and bit frequency (Experiement 4) 5. To determine the effects of plate size on young children's perception of portion size and intake (Experiement 4)