DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ESTIMATED MAXIMUM PORTION SIZE, RESTING METABOLIC RATE AND RELATIVE FAT MASS IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN

Description

2-day in-person conference.
Abstract:
Serving larger food portions increases energy intake and risk of weight
gain. However, whether BMI per se relates to portion size is unclear. The
‘drive to eat’ hypothesis proposes that energy expenditure drives energy
intake. We hypothesise that components of energy expenditure, namely
resting metabolic rate and body composition, may influence decisions
about food portions in adults and children. Visitors to the Science Museum,
London, UK (adults: n=535, 18-75 years; children: n=220, 8-17 years)
were asked to select maximum desired food portion sizes of five different
foods (peas, sweetcorn, peanuts, chocolate and M&M’s) from images in the
scenario that no other food was available for lunch. Height, weight, waist
circumference were recorded and used to estimate body mass index (BMI
or zBMI), resting metabolic rate (RMR) and relative fat mass index (RFM).
Correlation and multiple regression analysis investigated the independent
effects of BMI, RMR, RFM, and age on portion size for each food. In children,
waist, zBMI, RMR and RFM were not associated with portion size for any
food, but a faster self-reported eating rate predicted the selection of larger
portions of peas, peanuts, and chocolate. In adults, waist circumference
and BMI were not associated with portion size for any food. Using multiple
regression models, controlling for age, time since last meal and eating rate,
higher RMR predicted larger portions of all foods. Conversely, higher RFM
(but not BMI) was associated with smaller food portions for peas, peanuts
and M&M’s. Individual differences in metabolic rate and body composition
appear to influence decisions about portion size in adults, but not children.

Estimated audience numbers (if applicable)

120

Period	13 Apr 2023 → 14 Apr 2023
Event title	British Feeding and Drinking Group : 47th annual meeting
Event type	Conference
Location	Leeds, United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International