Effect of Varying Proportions of Low and High Energy Dense Foods Over 5 Days in Preschool Children

The Pennsylvania State University (PENNSTATE)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Feeding Behavior

Treatments: Other: Food proportionality

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT03242863

ChildFood503

R01DK082580 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this study, the investigators will vary the proportions of high- and low-energy-dense foods served to preschool children at all meals and snacks during three 5-day periods. In the three experimental conditions, the same foods will be served; only the amounts and proportions of foods will be varied. In the Baseline condition, typical proportions of age-appropriate foods will be served. In the Addition condition, the portion sizes of low-energy-dense foods will be increased, and in the Substitution condition, the portions of low-energy-dense foods will be increased by replacing an equivalent amount of foods higher in energy density. The primary aim is to determine the effect on children's energy intake of varying the proportion of low- and high-energy-dense foods served, either by addition or substitution, over 5 days. It is hypothesized that children will consume less energy when they are served meals in which low-energy-dense foods are substituted for foods higher in energy density over 5 days and that children will consume more energy when served meals to which low-energy-dense foods are added. Additionally, we will test the hypothesis that daily energy intake in the three conditions will begin to converge across the 5-day period.

Enrollment: 57 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 3 to 5 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Attending one of the designated daycare centers

Exclusion criteria

• Food Allergies
• Food restrictions
• Health Issues that Preclude Participation
• Not available for duration of the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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57 participants in 3 patient groups

Control

Experimental group

Description:

Baseline proportions of high and low energy dense foods.

Treatment:

Other: Food proportionality

Addition

Experimental group

Description:

Increased portion of low energy dense foods.

Treatment:

Other: Food proportionality

Substitution

Experimental group

Description:

Increased portion of low energy dense foods substituted for equal portion of foods higher in energy density.

Treatment:

Other: Food proportionality