Portion Size Strategies for Management of Body Weight

The Pennsylvania State University (PENNSTATE)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: Advice on healthy eating for weight loss; Behavioral: Advice on diet, physical activity, and behavior change; Behavioral: Instruction in food portion size; Other: Provision of pre-portioned foods

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT01474759

R01DK059853 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

PortionSize101

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary aim of this research is to determine the efficacy of two portion-control strategies to achieve sustainable dietary and behavior changes and to promote weight loss and maintenance. A randomized controlled trial will test two approaches to managing portion sizes: one that gives individuals skills and tools to help them make appropriate portion choices, and another that focuses on consumption of pre-portioned foods in order to limit exposure to large portions in the personal food environment. A third group will receive a basic nutritional program to promote weight loss.

The second aim of the research is to determine the effects of the programs on knowledge and consumption of appropriate portions, as assessed by innovative assessment methods and multiple-pass dietary recalls. The third aim is to conduct exploratory analyses of individual factors that may influence the response to the portion-control interventions, such as psychosocial indicators, blood biomarkers, and measures of adherence to the interventions. The expected outcome of the project is that it will lead to the development of specific, evidence-based strategies to help control portion sizes in order to manage weight.

Enrollment: 186 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 20 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Body mass index of 28 to 45 kg/m squared
• Able to safely engage in physical activity (walking)
• Able to attend regular instructional sessions at University Park, Pennsylvania

Exclusion criteria

• have a medical condition diagnosed by a physician that precludes participation
• report symptoms indicative of depression or disordered eating
• report serious food allergies or intolerance
• current or planned participation in a weight-loss program
• pregnant or lactating or planning to become pregnant in the next 18 months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

186 participants in 3 patient groups

Portion size instruction

Experimental group

Description:

Advice on diet, physical activity, and behavior change. Instruction in food portion size.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Advice on diet, physical activity, and behavior change

Behavioral: Instruction in food portion size

Pre-portioned foods

Experimental group

Description:

Advice on diet, physical activity, and behavior change. Provision of pre-portioned foods.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Advice on diet, physical activity, and behavior change

Other: Provision of pre-portioned foods

Comparison

Active Comparator group

Description:

Advice on diet, physical activity, and behavior change. Advice on healthy eating for weight loss.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Advice on diet, physical activity, and behavior change

Behavioral: Advice on healthy eating for weight loss