title: Small, medium, large or supersize? The development and evaluation of interventions targeted at portion size.
abstract: In the past decades, portion sizes of high-caloric foods and drinks have increased and can be considered an important environmental obesogenic factor. This paper describes a research project in which the feasibility and effectiveness of environmental interventions targeted at portion size was evaluated. The studies that we conducted revealed that portion size labeling, offering a larger variety of portion sizes, and proportional pricing (that is, a comparable price per unit regardless of the size) were considered feasible to implement according to both consumers and point-of-purchase representatives. Studies into the effectiveness of these interventions demonstrated that the impact of portion size labeling on the (intended) consumption of soft drinks was, at most, modest. Furthermore, the introduction of smaller portion sizes of hot meals in worksite cafeterias in addition to the existing size stimulated a moderate number of consumers to replace their large meals by a small meal. Elaborating on these findings, we advocate further research into communication and marketing strategies related to portion size interventions; the development of environmental portion size interventions as well as educational interventions that improve people's ability to deal with a 'super-sized' environment; the implementation of regulation with respect to portion size labeling, and the use of nudges to stimulate consumers to select healthier portion sizes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Vermeer
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I H M
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Steenhuis
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Poelman
mesh_terms: D002253:Carbonated Beverages; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003142:Communication; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005502:Food; D005522:Food Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D064787:Portion Size / Q000523:psychology; D011634:Public Health; D064788:Serving Size / Q000523:psychology