Larger portions make me eat more : awareness of the external factors
that influence food intake

Keenan, GS; Sheen, F; Haynes, A; Hardman, C

Abstract

There is consistent evidence that the amount of food people consume can be influenced by external factors, such as food portion size or the amount of food others are eating. However research studies to date have suggested that people are generally unaware of the influence that these external factors have on food intake. In the present research we directly tested whether consumers are aware of how external factors can affect their food intake. In Study 1 we re-analysed data from a study in which an effect of portion size on food intake was observed and post-consumption, participants were asked whether they believed portion size had influenced their food intake. In Study 2 participants were asked to indicate whether several different external factors known to increase food intake would be likely to increase, decrease or have no effect on how much they would eat in hypothetical scenarios. In Study 1, a large proportion of participants (56%) believed that their food intake was influenced by portion size. In Study 2, a large proportion of participants accurately identified that external factors known to affect eating behaviour would be likely to increase their food intake: portion size (73%), social influence (40%), food variety (75%), and distraction (59%). Together these results suggest that consumers show awareness of the influence that external factors have on their food intake.

Citation

that influence food intake. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/8befm

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 15, 2020
• Online Publication Date: May 15, 2020
• Publication Date: May 15, 2020
• Deposit Date: Sep 10, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 10, 2020
• Journal: PsyArXiv Preprints
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/8befm
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/8befm
• Related Public URLs: https://psyarxiv.com/
• Additional Information: Access Information : This is a pre-print and has not been through the peer-review process. The link above should direct to the latest version of this pre-print.