Abstract
•Smaller portion sizes are associated with lower energy intake.•We test a norm range model of the portion size effect on intended intake.•A wide range of portion sizes were perceived as normal.•Portions perceived as normal did not prompt intended compensatory eating.•Portions perceived as smaller than normal prompted intended compensation.
Highlights
Portion size refers to the amount of food served that is available for immediate consumption in a single eating occasion (Almiron-Roig, Navas-Carretero, Emery, & Martínez, 2018)
In Study 1, for all 5 foods we found that there were a wide range of portion sizes that a clear majority of participants categorised as being ‘normal’
We provide evidence that perceptions of portion size normality predict intended food consumption
Summary
Portion size refers to the amount of food served that is available for immediate consumption in a single eating occasion (Almiron-Roig, Navas-Carretero, Emery, & Martínez, 2018). Reducing the portion size of commercially available foods has been highlighted as a promising strategy to reduce energy intake and tackle obesity (Marteau, Hollands, Shemilt, & Jebb, 2015). An issue with reducing portion size is that if too large a reduction is made, consumers may compensate for the smaller size by eating more than one portion of that food or by consuming more of other foods. This may result in total energy intake that is equal to (compensation) or exceeds (‘overcompensation’) the amount that would have been consumed from a standard, non-reduced portion. Once the decision is made to consume a second serving or another food, due to there being a zone of ‘biological indifference’ for food intake (Herman & Polivy, 1983) consumers may be able to eat all of the additional serving and motivated to do so because of unit bias (the tendency to consume the entirety of a single entity rather than a fraction, e.g., one whole plateful or piece of food, Geier, Rozin, & Doros, 2006)
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