Portion Size of Energy-Dense Foods among French and UK Adults by BMI Status.

Holly Rippin,Joao Breda,Jo Jewell,Janet Cade,Jayne Hutchinson

doi:10.3390/nu11010012

Holly Rippin, Joao Breda + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010012

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Abstract

Evidence links consumed food portion size (FPS) and excess weight via increased energy intake. Policies to regulate on-pack serving sizes may be needed; determining consumed FPS of popular energy-dense foods for normal weight and overweight or obese (OWOB) adults, as reported here, may provide evidence to assist this. Data were analysed from national cross-sectional surveys, the French Étude Individuelle Nationale des Consommations Alimentaires2 2005–2007 (n = 2117), and UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008–2014 (n = 3413). The impact of body mass index (BMI) on FPS is also investigated, adjusting for age, sex and under-reporting. Effects of under-reporting on relationships between FPS and BMI; and BMI on consumption frequency (UK only) were explored. OWOB reported larger FPS than normal-weight individuals in many, but not all food subgroups; however, there were only two significant FPS differences. In adjusted analyses, French individuals consumed 1.0 g (99% CI 0.01–2.1 p = 0.01) greater FPS in cakes for 1 point difference in BMI. ‘Other cakes’ and ‘dark chocolate’ were also significantly positively associated with BMI. High-fat bar snacks, but no UK main food groups, were positively associated with BMI. There was limited evidence of links between FPS and BMI in UK and French national cross-sectional data, possibly due to data limitations such as under-reporting. Future work should explore this and relationships between consumed FPS and on-pack suggested serving sizes to provide evidence to assist obesity-prevention policies.

Highlights

Europe is the World Health Organization (WHO) region most severely affected by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which, alongside related conditions including overweight and obesity, have significant and growing economic and social costs
INCA2 4% (n = 98) and in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2% (n = 46) underweight adults aged 19–64 years were excluded from body mass index (BMI) analyses
OWOB adults analysed in the INCA2 were significantly older, with a greater proportion of males, 32% higher weight, higher BMI and were less likely to have a degree compared to normal weight individuals

Summary

Introduction

Europe is the World Health Organization (WHO) region most severely affected by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which, alongside related conditions including overweight and obesity, have significant and growing economic and social costs. Evidence indicates an indirect link between food portion size (FPS) and excess weight via increased energy intake, and suggests that limiting FPS contributes to reduced energy intake and, reduced weight gain [6,7,8]. Both Ledikwe, et al [6] and Bhupathiraju and Hu [9] link large FPS, of energy-dense foods, with rising adult obesity levels in America via elevated energy intakes.

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