Served Portion Sizes Affect Later Food Intake Through Social Consumption Norms

Nutrients

Ashleigh Haynes¹  Emely De Vet²  Sanne Raghoebar²  Eric Robinson³  Ellen Van Kleef⁴ 

[1] Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, 615 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia;Consumption and Healthy Lifestyles Group, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands;Institute of Psychology, Health, and Society, University of Liverpool, Bedford Street South, Liverpool L69 7ZA, UK;Marketing and Consumer Behavior Group, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands;

关键词: portion size;    food environment;    food intake;    social norms;    personal norms;    portion size normality;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nu11122845

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Portion sizes of commercially available foods have increased, and there is evidence that exposure to portion sizes recalibrates what is perceived as ‘normal’ and subsequently, how much food is selected and consumed. The present study aims to explore the role of social (descriptive and injunctive) and personal portion size norms in this effect. Across two experiments, participants were either visually exposed to (Study 1, N = 329) or actually served (Study 2, N = 132) a smaller or larger than normal food portion. After 24 h, participants reported their intended consumption (Study 1) or served themselves and consumed (Study 2) a portion of that food and reported perceived portion size norms. In Study 1, visual exposure to portion size did not significantly affect intended consumption and perceived portion size norms. In Study 2, participants consumed a smaller portion of food when they were served a smaller rather than a larger portion the previous day, which was mediated by perceived descriptive and injunctive social (but not personal) portion size norms. Results suggest that being served (but not mere visual exposure to) smaller (relative to larger) portions changes perceived social norms about portion size and this may reduce future consumption of that food.

【 授权许可】

Unknown