Testing an online measure of portion size selection: a pilot study concerned with the measurement of ideal portion size

Abstract Background Portion size is known to be a key driver of food intake. As consumed portions are often pre-planned, ‘ideal portion size’—an individual’s preferred meal size selected prior to eating—has been identified as a strong predictor of actual consumption. However, assessments of ideal po...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rochelle Embling, Michelle D. Lee, Menna Price, Laura L. Wilkinson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-09-01
Series:Pilot and Feasibility Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-021-00908-x
_version_ 1819129504276152320
author Rochelle Embling
Michelle D. Lee
Menna Price
Laura L. Wilkinson
author_facet Rochelle Embling
Michelle D. Lee
Menna Price
Laura L. Wilkinson
author_sort Rochelle Embling
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Portion size is known to be a key driver of food intake. As consumed portions are often pre-planned, ‘ideal portion size’—an individual’s preferred meal size selected prior to eating—has been identified as a strong predictor of actual consumption. However, assessments of ideal portion size have predominantly relied on laboratory-based computer tasks, limiting use online. Therefore, this cross-sectional study sought to pilot test the validity of a web-based tool to measure ideal portion size. Methods In an online study (N = 48), participants responded to images of a range of foods. Each food was photographed in a series of different portions and loaded into an ‘image carousel’ that would allow participants to change the size of the displayed portion by moving a slider left-to-right. Using this image carousel, participants selected their ideal portion size. They also completed measures of expected satiety and expected satiation and self-reported their age and body mass index (BMI). A non-parametric correlation matrix was used to explore associations between ideal portion size and identified predictors of food intake. Results Supporting convergent validity of this measure, ideal portion size was significantly correlated with expected satiety (r s = .480) and expected satiation (r s = −.310) after controlling for effects of baseline hunger and fullness, consistent with past research. Similarly, supporting divergent validity of this measure, ideal portion size was not significantly correlated with age (r s = −.032) or BMI (r s = −.111,). Conclusions Pilot results support the validity of this web-based portion size selection tool used to measure ideal portion size, though further research is needed to validate use with comparisons to actual food intake.
first_indexed 2024-12-22T08:44:46Z
format Article
id doaj.art-60275afd778a46388edebf2e7be1dddd
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2055-5784
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-22T08:44:46Z
publishDate 2021-09-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Pilot and Feasibility Studies
spelling doaj.art-60275afd778a46388edebf2e7be1dddd2022-12-21T18:32:09ZengBMCPilot and Feasibility Studies2055-57842021-09-017111110.1186/s40814-021-00908-xTesting an online measure of portion size selection: a pilot study concerned with the measurement of ideal portion sizeRochelle Embling0Michelle D. Lee1Menna Price2Laura L. Wilkinson3Department of Psychology, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea UniversityDepartment of Psychology, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea UniversityDepartment of Psychology, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea UniversityDepartment of Psychology, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea UniversityAbstract Background Portion size is known to be a key driver of food intake. As consumed portions are often pre-planned, ‘ideal portion size’—an individual’s preferred meal size selected prior to eating—has been identified as a strong predictor of actual consumption. However, assessments of ideal portion size have predominantly relied on laboratory-based computer tasks, limiting use online. Therefore, this cross-sectional study sought to pilot test the validity of a web-based tool to measure ideal portion size. Methods In an online study (N = 48), participants responded to images of a range of foods. Each food was photographed in a series of different portions and loaded into an ‘image carousel’ that would allow participants to change the size of the displayed portion by moving a slider left-to-right. Using this image carousel, participants selected their ideal portion size. They also completed measures of expected satiety and expected satiation and self-reported their age and body mass index (BMI). A non-parametric correlation matrix was used to explore associations between ideal portion size and identified predictors of food intake. Results Supporting convergent validity of this measure, ideal portion size was significantly correlated with expected satiety (r s = .480) and expected satiation (r s = −.310) after controlling for effects of baseline hunger and fullness, consistent with past research. Similarly, supporting divergent validity of this measure, ideal portion size was not significantly correlated with age (r s = −.032) or BMI (r s = −.111,). Conclusions Pilot results support the validity of this web-based portion size selection tool used to measure ideal portion size, though further research is needed to validate use with comparisons to actual food intake.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-021-00908-xPortion sizeMeal sizeExpected satietyExpected satiationOnlineSurvey
spellingShingle Rochelle Embling
Michelle D. Lee
Menna Price
Laura L. Wilkinson
Testing an online measure of portion size selection: a pilot study concerned with the measurement of ideal portion size
Pilot and Feasibility Studies
Portion size
Meal size
Expected satiety
Expected satiation
Online
Survey
title Testing an online measure of portion size selection: a pilot study concerned with the measurement of ideal portion size
title_full Testing an online measure of portion size selection: a pilot study concerned with the measurement of ideal portion size
title_fullStr Testing an online measure of portion size selection: a pilot study concerned with the measurement of ideal portion size
title_full_unstemmed Testing an online measure of portion size selection: a pilot study concerned with the measurement of ideal portion size
title_short Testing an online measure of portion size selection: a pilot study concerned with the measurement of ideal portion size
title_sort testing an online measure of portion size selection a pilot study concerned with the measurement of ideal portion size
topic Portion size
Meal size
Expected satiety
Expected satiation
Online
Survey
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-021-00908-x
work_keys_str_mv AT rochelleembling testinganonlinemeasureofportionsizeselectionapilotstudyconcernedwiththemeasurementofidealportionsize
AT michelledlee testinganonlinemeasureofportionsizeselectionapilotstudyconcernedwiththemeasurementofidealportionsize
AT mennaprice testinganonlinemeasureofportionsizeselectionapilotstudyconcernedwiththemeasurementofidealportionsize
AT lauralwilkinson testinganonlinemeasureofportionsizeselectionapilotstudyconcernedwiththemeasurementofidealportionsize