A new systematic review led by researchers at the Behaviour and Health Research Unit (BHRU), published on the 14th of September in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, has found the most conclusive evidence to date that people consistently consume more food and drink when offered larger-sized portions, packages or tableware than when offered smaller-sized versions.
The size of this effect, based on combining data from 61 randomised controlled trials (6,711 participants), suggests that if sustained reductions in exposure to large sizes could be achieved across the whole diet, this could reduce average daily energy consumed from food by up to 16% among adults in the UK.
Portion, package or tableware size for changing selection and consumption of food, alcohol and tobacco. Hollands, Shemilt, Marteau, Jebb, Lewis, Wei, Higgins, & Ogilvie., 2015
Click on the video below to see a BHRU animation about conducting systematic reviews.
- To access and download a copy of the full, open access Cochrane review in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, click here.
- To view Cochrane UK coverage of this Cochrane review in the ‘Evidently Cochrane’ blog (from 15/09), click here.
- To join the Twitter conversation about this Cochrane review, follow: @BHRUCambridge and #PortionSize
