The Effect of Portion Size on Food Intake of 3 to 6 year old children in Kunming, China

Objectives To assess the effects of portion size on food intake of 3 to 6 year old Chinese children and to evaluate the association between age and the effects of portion size on food intake. Methods Participants consisted of students in the youngest and oldest classes of a kindergarten in Kunming China (mean age of younger class = 4.1 years, mean age of older class= 6.1 years). Each student was served a pre‐defined small, medium, and large portion of rice, vegetables, meat and soup during three consecutive lunchtimes. Individual portions were weighed before and after the meal. Results 141 children completed all three portion size conditions. Older children ate an average of 253 g (+/− 119 g), 328 g (+/− 116 g), and 446 g (+/− 190 g) of rice and vegetables, while younger children ate 188 g (+/− 73 g), 248 g (+/− 83 g), and 190 g (+/− 84 g) of rice and vegetables, when given small, medium, and large portions respectively. There was a positive association between portion size and relative change in food intake (p <.001). Older children consumed proportionally more food as a result of increased portion size than younger children (p <.001). Conclusions Increased portion size is associated with increased food consumption. Age mediates the relationship between portion size and food intake, and older children are more influenced by portion size than younger children. Grant Funding Source : Wilbur G. Downs International Health Student Travel Fellowship