Exploring the experiences of people with obesity using portion control tools - a qualitative study

Large portion sizes increase consumption and eating smaller portions is recommended as a weight control strategy. However, many people report difficulties enacting this advice. This study examined the experience of individuals using two commercially available portion-control tools to try to manage t...

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Main Authors: Almiron-Roig, E, Majumdar, A, Vaughan, D, Jebb, S
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: MDPI 2019
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author Almiron-Roig, E
Majumdar, A
Vaughan, D
Jebb, S
author_facet Almiron-Roig, E
Majumdar, A
Vaughan, D
Jebb, S
author_sort Almiron-Roig, E
collection OXFORD
description Large portion sizes increase consumption and eating smaller portions is recommended as a weight control strategy. However, many people report difficulties enacting this advice. This study examined the experience of individuals using two commercially available portion-control tools to try to manage their weight. In a crossover design, 29 adults with obesity (18 women) who had attended a previous weight loss intervention in the community were invited to use two portion-control tool sets over a period of four weeks (two weeks each) and to complete a semi-structured questionnaire about their experience. The tools were a guided crockery set (sector plate, calibrated bowl, and calibrated glass) and a set of calibrated serving spoons (one for starch, one for protein, and one for vegetables). Data were analyzed using thematic framework analysis. A key theme was related to the educational benefits of the tools, such as generating awareness, guidance, and gaining an independent ability to judge appropriate portions. Other key themes were tool usability, acceptability, and feasibility of usage. Barriers identified by participants included unclear markings/instructions and the inconvenience of using the tool when eating away from home. Overall, the tools were perceived to be educationally useful, easy to use, and potentially effective for learning to control portions, which suggested that these instruments could help in weight management interventions alongside other strategies. Elements of the tool design could influence the ability of participants to adhere to using the tool, and hence allow the educational effect to be mediated.
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spelling oxford-uuid:9ef13235-d9ad-4ef0-a6af-98672bb6e90f2022-03-27T00:53:41ZExploring the experiences of people with obesity using portion control tools - a qualitative studyJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:9ef13235-d9ad-4ef0-a6af-98672bb6e90fEnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordMDPI2019Almiron-Roig, EMajumdar, AVaughan, DJebb, SLarge portion sizes increase consumption and eating smaller portions is recommended as a weight control strategy. However, many people report difficulties enacting this advice. This study examined the experience of individuals using two commercially available portion-control tools to try to manage their weight. In a crossover design, 29 adults with obesity (18 women) who had attended a previous weight loss intervention in the community were invited to use two portion-control tool sets over a period of four weeks (two weeks each) and to complete a semi-structured questionnaire about their experience. The tools were a guided crockery set (sector plate, calibrated bowl, and calibrated glass) and a set of calibrated serving spoons (one for starch, one for protein, and one for vegetables). Data were analyzed using thematic framework analysis. A key theme was related to the educational benefits of the tools, such as generating awareness, guidance, and gaining an independent ability to judge appropriate portions. Other key themes were tool usability, acceptability, and feasibility of usage. Barriers identified by participants included unclear markings/instructions and the inconvenience of using the tool when eating away from home. Overall, the tools were perceived to be educationally useful, easy to use, and potentially effective for learning to control portions, which suggested that these instruments could help in weight management interventions alongside other strategies. Elements of the tool design could influence the ability of participants to adhere to using the tool, and hence allow the educational effect to be mediated.
spellingShingle Almiron-Roig, E
Majumdar, A
Vaughan, D
Jebb, S
Exploring the experiences of people with obesity using portion control tools - a qualitative study
title Exploring the experiences of people with obesity using portion control tools - a qualitative study
title_full Exploring the experiences of people with obesity using portion control tools - a qualitative study
title_fullStr Exploring the experiences of people with obesity using portion control tools - a qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the experiences of people with obesity using portion control tools - a qualitative study
title_short Exploring the experiences of people with obesity using portion control tools - a qualitative study
title_sort exploring the experiences of people with obesity using portion control tools a qualitative study
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