Combined Effects of Variety and Portion Size on Meal Intake of Women

Combined Effects of Variety and Portion Size on Meal Intake of Women

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the combined effects of meal variety and portion size on food intake at a meal. The study will also investigate relationships with eating microstructure such as eating rate and bite size. Additionally, other individual characteristics will be examined for their influence on the effects of variety and portion size on meal intake.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be willing and able to travel to Penn State University Park campus weekly for meals
• Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
• Be a woman 20 - 65 years old
• Regularly eat 3 meals/day
• Be willing to refrain from drinking alcohol the day before and during test days
• Have a body mass index between 18.0 and 35.0 kg/m*m
• Be willing to refrain from eating after 10 pm the evening before test sessions
• Be willing to participate in all study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

• Must not be a smoker
• Must not be an athlete in training
• Must not be pregnant or breastfeeding at the time of screening
• Must not have taken prescription or non-prescription drugs that may affect appetite or food intake within the last 3 months
• Must not dislike or be unable to eat the test foods (because of allergies, intolerance, or dietary restrictions)
• Must not have a high variability in liking of the test foods
• Must not be currently dieting to gain or lose weight
• Must not have a health condition that affects appetite
• Must not have participated in a similar study in our lab in the past year
• Must not be a student, faculty, or staff member in nutritional sciences or psychology