-
1.
Impact of Portion Control Tools on Portion Size Awareness, Choice and Intake: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Vargas-Alvarez, MA, Navas-Carretero, S, Palla, L, Martínez, JA, Almiron-Roig, E
Nutrients. 2021;(6)
Abstract
Portion control utensils and reduced size tableware amongst other tools, have the potential to guide portion size intake but their effectiveness remains controversial. This review evaluated the breadth and effectiveness of existing portion control tools on learning/awareness of appropriate portion sizes (PS), PS choice, and PS consumption. Additional outcomes were energy intake and weight loss. Published records between 2006-2020 (n = 1241) were identified from PubMed and WoS, and 36 publications comparing the impact of portion control tools on awareness (n = 7 studies), selection/choice (n = 14), intake plus related measures (n = 21) and weight status (n = 9) were analyzed. Non-tableware tools included cooking utensils, educational aids and computerized applications. Tableware included mostly reduced-size and portion control/calibrated crockery/cutlery. Overall, 55% of studies reported a significant impact of using a tool (typically smaller bowl, fork or glass; or calibrated plate). A meta-analysis of 28 articles confirmed an overall effect of tool on food intake (d = -0.22; 95%CI: -0.38, -0.06; 21 comparisons), mostly driven by combinations of reduced-size bowls and spoons decreasing serving sizes (d = -0.48; 95%CI: -0.72, -0.24; 8 comparisons) and consumed amounts/energy (d = -0.22; 95%CI: -0.39, -0.05, 9 comparisons), but not by reduced-size plates (d = -0.03; 95%CI: -0.12, 0.06, 7 comparisons). Portion control tools marginally induced weight loss (d = -0.20; 95%CI: -0.37, -0.03; 9 comparisons), especially driven by calibrated tableware. No impact was detected on PS awareness; however, few studies quantified this outcome. Specific portion control tools may be helpful as potentially effective instruments for inclusion as part of weight loss interventions. Reduced size plates per se may not be as effective as previously suggested.
-
2.
Impact of Taste on Food Choices in Adolescence-Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Bawajeeh, AO, Albar, SA, Zhang, H, Zulyniak, MA, Evans, CEL, Cade, JE
Nutrients. 2020;(7)
Abstract
Studies of adults report that perceived taste affects food choices and intake, which in turn may have an impact on health. However, corresponding evidence on adolescents is limited. Our aim was to summarize current evidence of the impact of taste perception on food choice preferences or dietary intakes among adolescents (mean age 10-19.9 years). Systematic searches identified 13 papers, 12 cross-sectional and one cohort study published between 1 January 2000 to 20 February 2020 assessing the impact of taste (using phenotypic and/or genotypic markers) on food choices in adolescents without any disease conditions. Qualitative assessment in the current review indicated that individuals sensitive to bitter tastes often have a lower preference of bitter-tasting food and higher preference for sweet-tasting food. A meta-analysis of three studies on bitter-taste sensitivity revealed no difference in preference for bitter-tasting vegetables between bitter tasters and non-tasters (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.04; 95% CI: -0.18, 0.26; p = 0.72). Overall, a limited number of studies were available for review. As a result, we report no clear relationship between taste perception and food choices or intake in adolescents. More studies are needed to evaluate the link between adolescents' taste perceptions and dietary intake.
-
3.
Media food marketing and eating outcomes among pre-adolescents and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Qutteina, Y, De Backer, C, Smits, T
Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 2019;(12):1708-1719
Abstract
The media marketing's effect on child and adult eating has been extensively researched, yet, little is known about its effect on adolescents. The aim of this review is to synthesize available research on the relation between media food marketing and eating-related cognitions, attitudes, and behaviors among pre-adolescents (8-11) and adolescents (12-19). We systematically screened and retrieved 9324 articles, of which 28 were included in the review-analysis and 19 in the meta-analysis. Robust variance estimation with random effect weights indicated a positive small standard effect size (d = 0.26, P < .001) of media food marketing on all unhealthy eating outcomes, and a subgroup analysis revealed a small effect size (d = 0.26, P < .001) on unhealthy eating behaviors specifically. Another subgroup analysis among adolescents revealed an effect of marketing (d = 0.22, P < .05) on unhealthy eating outcomes. This review demonstrates the significance of media marketing on eating in pre-adolescents and adolescents, and highlights limitations in the food marketing and adolescent eating literature specific to eating outcomes and marketing media studied and research designs utilized. We call for properly designed food marketing research exploring digital media's effect on eating attitudes and cognitions, especially among older adolescents.
-
4.
The persuasive effect of advergames promoting unhealthy foods among children: A meta-analysis.
Folkvord, F, van 't Riet, J
Appetite. 2018;:245-251
Abstract
Multiple studies have examined the effects of advergames promoting unhealthy foods on eating behavior among children. Although the individual results of the existing studies suggest that advergames have a significant influence on (predictors of) eating behavior, a lack of clarity concerning the size of the effect may impede policy actions. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to examine the strength of the effect of playing advergames that promote unhealthy foods on (predictors of) eating behavior among children. Five electronic databases were searched for relevant publications (Web of Science, PsychInfo, Pubmed, JSTOR, and SCOPUS). Fifteen articles were considered eligible for inclusion and analyzed in the meta-analysis. Employing a random-effects model to estimate the composite effect of advergames yielded a small-to-moderate and significant effect of g = 0.30. Results showed that advergames promoting unhealthy foods induced unhealthy eating behavior among children. Although only a limited number of studies were included, this meta-analysis supports public health policy action that seeks to reduce children's exposure to unhealthy digital food marketing. Stricter regulation to protect children against new forms of (online) marketing techniques that promote unhealthy foods should be developed and implemented.
-
5.
Effect of school wellness policies and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act on food-consumption behaviors of students, 2006-2016: a systematic review.
Mansfield, JL, Savaiano, DA
Nutrition reviews. 2017;(7):533-552
Abstract
Federal regulation mandates that the US National School Lunch Program nutrition standards align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. As students consume a substantial proportion of their nutrition during school lunch, increasing access to healthy foods is proposed to improve student dietary outcomes. The purpose of this review is to assess whether policy changes impacted food-consumption behaviors of students during periods when (1) school wellness policies were implemented (2006-2007); (2) the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act was passed (2010-2012); and (3) the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act was implemented (2012-present). PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct were searched for primary research studies. Policy evaluations and interventions implemented from 2006 to 2016 were included. A total of 31 studies evaluating plate waste, dietary intake, food selection, and/or purchasing patterns were identified and reviewed. Fourteen of 19 intervention and longitudinal observation studies reported improved food-consumption behaviors (increased selection, intake, and sales of healthy foods, and decreased plate waste). Only 2 of 12 one-time observation studies reported food-consumption behaviors meeting target nutrition standards. The majority of studies indicated that increasing access to healthy foods during school lunch improved students' dietary intakes. Challenges related to study design, adaptation period, quality of foods, and policy implementation likely affect a school lunch program's ability to impact students' food-consumption behaviors. Ongoing evaluation of these programs is warranted.
-
6.
Influence of unhealthy food and beverage marketing on children's dietary intake and preference: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.
Sadeghirad, B, Duhaney, T, Motaghipisheh, S, Campbell, NR, Johnston, BC
Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 2016;(10):945-59
Abstract
Marketing of foods and beverages high in fat, sugar and salt are suggested to contribute to poor dietary behaviours in children and diet-related diseases later in life. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials aimed to assess the effects of unhealthy food and beverage marketing on dietary intake (grams or kilocalories) and dietary preference (preference score or percentage of participants who selected specific foods/beverages) among children 2 to 18 years of age. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO up to January 2015 for terms related to advertising, unhealthy foods or beverages among children. Randomized trials that assessed the effects of unhealthy food and beverage marketing compared with non-dietary advertisement or no advertisement in children were considered eligible. Two authors independently extracted information on study characteristics and outcomes of interest and assessed risk of bias and the overall quality of evidence using grade methodology. Meta-analysis was conducted separately for dietary intake and preference using a random-effects model. We identified 29 eligible studies, of which 17 studies were included for meta-analysis of dietary preference and nine for meta-analysis of dietary intake. Almost half of the studies were at high risk of bias. Our meta-analysis showed that in children exposed to unhealthy dietary marketing, dietary intake significantly increased (mean difference [MD] = 30.4 kcal, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.9 to 57.9, and MD = 4.8 g, 95%CI 0.8 to 8.8) during or shortly after exposure to advertisements. Similarly, children exposed to the unhealthy dietary marketing had a higher risk of selecting the advertised foods or beverages (relative risk = 1.1, 95%CI 1.0 to 1.2; P = 0.052). The evidence indicates that unhealthy food and beverage marketing increases dietary intake (moderate quality evidence) and preference (moderate to low quality evidence) for energy-dense, low-nutrition food and beverage. Unhealthy food and beverage marketing increased dietary intake and influenced dietary preference in children during or shortly after exposure to advertisements. © 2016 World Obesity.
-
7.
Inverse association between carbohydrate consumption and plasma adropin concentrations in humans.
Stevens, JR, Kearney, ML, St-Onge, MP, Stanhope, KL, Havel, PJ, Kanaley, JA, Thyfault, JP, Weiss, EP, Butler, AA
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). 2016;(8):1731-40
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The role of metabolic condition and diet in regulating circulating levels of adropin, a peptide hormone linked to cardiometabolic control, is not well understood. In this study, weight loss and diet effects on plasma adropin concentrations were examined. METHODS This report includes data from (1) a weight loss trial, (2) an evaluation of acute exercise effects on mixed-meal (60% kcal from carbohydrates) tolerance test responses, and (3) a meta-analysis to determine normal fasting adropin concentrations. RESULTS Distribution of plasma adropin concentrations exhibited positive skew and kurtosis. The effect of weight loss on plasma adropin concentrations was dependent on baseline plasma adropin concentrations, with an inverse association between baseline and a decline in concentrations after weight loss (Spearman's ρ = -0.575; P < 0.001). When ranked by baseline plasma adropin concentrations, only values in the upper quartile declined with weight loss. Plasma adropin concentrations under the main area of the bell curve correlated negatively with habitual carbohydrate intake and plasma lipids. There was a negative correlation between baseline values and a transient decline in plasma adropin during the mixed-meal tolerance test. CONCLUSIONS Plasma adropin concentrations in humans are sensitive to dietary macronutrients, perhaps due to habitual consumption of carbohydrate-rich diets suppressing circulating levels. Very high adropin levels may indicate cardiometabolic conditions sensitive to weight loss.
-
8.
A Genome-Wide Association Study in isolated populations reveals new genes associated to common food likings.
Pirastu, N, Kooyman, M, Traglia, M, Robino, A, Willems, SM, Pistis, G, Amin, N, Sala, C, Karssen, LC, Van Duijn, C, et al
Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders. 2016;(2):209-19
Abstract
Food preferences are the first factor driving food choice and thus nutrition. They involve numerous different senses such as taste and olfaction as well as various other factors such as personal experiences and hedonistic aspects. Although it is clear that several of these have a genetic basis, up to now studies have focused mostly on the effects of polymorphisms of taste receptor genes. Therefore, we have carried out one of the first large scale (4611 individuals) GWAS on food likings assessed for 20 specific food likings belonging to 4 different categories (vegetables, fatty, dairy and bitter). A two-step meta-analysis using three different isolated populations from Italy for the discovery step and two populations from The Netherlands and Central Asia for replication, revealed 15 independent genome-wide significant loci (p < 5 × 10(-8)) for 12 different foods. None of the identified genes coded for either taste or olfactory receptors suggesting that genetics impacts in determining food likings in a much broader way than simple differences in taste perception. These results represent a further step in uncovering the genes that underlie liking of common foods that in the end will greatly help understanding the genetics of human nutrition in general.
-
9.
A meta-analysis of the relationship between brain dopamine receptors and obesity: a matter of changes in behavior rather than food addiction?
Benton, D, Young, HA
International journal of obesity (2005). 2016;(Suppl 1):S12-21
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
Addiction to a wide range of substances of abuse has been suggested to reflect a 'Reward Deficiency Syndrome'. That is, drugs are said to stimulate the reward mechanisms so intensely that, to compensate, the population of dopamine D2 receptors (DD2R) declines. The result is that an increased intake is necessary to experience the same degree of reward. Without an additional intake, cravings and withdrawal symptoms result. A suggestion is that food addiction, in a similar manner to drugs of abuse, decrease DD2R. The role of DD2R in obesity was therefore examined by examining the association between body mass index (BMI) and the Taq1A polymorphism, as the A1 allele is associated with a 30-40% lower number of DD2R, and is a risk factor for drug addiction. If a lower density of DD2R is indicative of physical addiction, it was argued that if food addiction occurs, those with the A1 allele should have a higher BMI. A systematic review found 33 studies that compared the BMI of those who did and did not have the A1 allele. A meta-analysis of the studies compared those with (A1/A1 and A1/A2) or without (A2/A2) the A1 allele; no difference in BMI was found (standardized mean difference 0.004 (s.e. 0.021), variance 0.000, Z=0.196, P<0.845). It was concluded that there was no support for a reward deficiency theory of food addiction. In contrast, there are several reports that those with the A1 allele are less able to benefit from an intervention that aimed to reduce weight, possibly a reflection of increased impulsivity.
-
10.
The clean plate club: about 92% of self-served food is eaten.
Wansink, B, Johnson, KA
International journal of obesity (2005). 2015;(2):371-4
Abstract
Many eating studies in psychology, consumer behavior and marketing journals are dismissed, because they focus on how much one serves and not how much is eaten. We develop a means of estimating the percentage of self-served food that is consumed under various conditions. An aggregate analysis was conducted of studies where participants served themselves food and where actual intake was measured. Analyses explored what percentage of food was consumed depending on population, food and situational cues and generally showed that adults consistently consume the vast majority (91.7%) of what they serve themselves. This was higher for meals (92.8%) than for snacks (76.1%) and higher when a person was not distracted (97.1%) than when he or she was distracted (88.8%). The percentage eaten did not vary between lab (90.7%) and field settings (91.9%). Because many eating behavior studies outside of nutrition measure food selection, but not intake, the aggregate estimates presented in this research can enable obesity, nutrition and public health researchers to extrapolate how much may have been eaten in such studies. Doing so will extend their relevance to better understanding eating behavior and better developing solutions to overeating.