Wakalapi

Training in portion-size estimation is known to improve the accuracy of dietary self-reporting in adults, but there is no comparable evidence for children. To obtain this information, we studied 110 second- and third-grade American Indian schoolchildren (34 control subjects were not trained), testing the hypotheses that a 45-min portion-size estimation training session would reduce children's food quantity estimation error, and that the improvement would be dependent on food type, measurement type, or both. Training was a hands-on, 4-step estimation and measurement skill-building process. Mixed linear models (using logarithmic-transformed data) were used to evaluate within- and between-group differences from pre- to posttest. Test scores were calculated as percentage estimation errors by difference and absolute value methods. Mean within-group estimation error decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from pre- to posttest for 7 of 12 foods (trained group) by both calculation methods, plus 3 additional foods by the difference method and one additional food by the absolute value method. Significant (P < 0.05) between-group differences occurred for 3 foods, reflecting a greater decrease in estimation error for the trained group. Improvement was greatest for solid foods estimated by dimensions (P > 0.05) or in cups (P < 0.05), for liquids estimated by volume or by label reading (P < 0.001), and for one amorphous food estimated in cups (P < 0.01). Despite these significant improvements in estimation ability, the error for several foods remained >100% of the true quantity, indicating that more than one training session would be necessary to further increase dietary reporting accuracy.



Key Words: Portion-size estimation • diet assessment • dietary intake • food quantity estimation • schoolchildren • obesity prevention • nutrition education • American Indian children


http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/69/4/782S

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"Friends don't let friends drink decaf..."

Thumper

a couple of yrs. ago, i saw a news report on a similar topic. the jist was people overeat because they weren't paying attention to their meal. they were paying attention to the game, the conversation, the cute waitress, etc. we are born with a "mechanism" (for lack of better term) that tells us when to stop eating, programmed from birth. they took 3 yr olds and gave them a full plate of food. and sat them in a room with a tv on.they ate till they didn't need any more and subsequently threw the rest of it on the floor....lol. then they took the same kids, 1 yr. later and did the same thing. the kids were busy watching tv. and ate much more than they needed. they were engrossed in watching the tube. combine that with parents who for some reason beat it into their child to finish all their food (regardless of whether or not the child actually needs all that food at that point in time) whose parents themselves did the same thing, cause THEIR parents did it (remember the great depression?!) . now the programming nature gave us to quit eating right before we get FULL has been shut off (actually ignored, and then lost).
now carry that into adult hood..... we stuff ourselves and our children because that's what the people who said the earth was flat told us to do.... *L*
i realized i was doing exactly that, so i started paying more attention to HOW i was eating... and i remembered when to stop, i seldom eat until i'm full, yet am always satiated. i teach this to my kids, and i NEVER make them eat until they are full, or until their plate is clean....

__________________
if i could change i would, take back the pain i would. retrace every wrong move that i made i would. stand up and take the blame i would. i would take all my shame to the grave
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD!
WHAT'S 5'8 200lbs and HARD ALL OVER?
how come everytime i turn around someone is speaking spanish to me? this is new
HONOR THY CHILDREN

Thumper

they also did another experiment, w/ adults. one i remember for sure, is they would have people sit at a table and eat soup. they kept the bowl full through an elaborate setup w/ a hose going to the bowl from under the table. the people would be engaged in conversation and keep eating their soup not paying any attention to how their bodies were feeling. they all ate at least 2 bowls before noticing something was up.....and one guy had a full QUART!!!! :explode:

they would take away all stimuli (put them in a room w/o windows, no tv, no radio, no ppl...blank walls... )and people would stop eating just before they were full.... :18:

and there were more things with similar type outcomes... the only other one i vaguely remember is they would make the plates huge to make portions seem small when in fact the portions were much larger than average....ppl would overeat again..... :Hammer:

__________________
if i could change i would, take back the pain i would. retrace every wrong move that i made i would. stand up and take the blame i would. i would take all my shame to the grave
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD!
WHAT'S 5'8 200lbs and HARD ALL OVER?
how come everytime i turn around someone is speaking spanish to me? this is new
HONOR THY CHILDREN