Our systematic review has produced 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% (279 kcals) among UK adults.
Portion, package or tableware size for changing selection and consumption of food, alcohol and tobacco. Hollands, Shemilt, Marteau, Jebb, Lewis, Wei, Higgins & Ogilvie. 2015.
- 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
