Sue D. Pedersen, MD, FRCPC; Jian Kang, MSc; Gregory A. Kline, MD, FRCPC Portion Control Plate for Weight Loss in Obese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Arch Intern Med. 167: 1277-1283 2007

Compared with usual care, the portion control tool studied was effective in inducing weight loss. The portion control plate also enabled patients with diabetes mellitus to decrease their hypoglycemic medications without sacrificing glycemic control. 

Wansink B, Van Ittersum K, Painter J.E. Ice cream illusions: Bowls, spoons and self-served portion sizes. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 31: 240-243. 2006

When nutrition experts were given a larger serving bowl they served themselves 31% more ice cream and when given a larger spoon, they served themselves 14.5% more. People could try using the size of their bowls and possibly serving spoons to help them better control how much they consume. Those interested in losing weight should use smaller bowls and spoons, while those needing to gain weight - such as the undernourished or aged - could be encouraged to use larger ones

Furnes MW, Zhao CM, Chen D.

Development of obesity is associated with Increased calories per meal rather than per day. A study of high-fat diet-induced obesity in young rats. Obesity Surgery. 19(10):1430-1438.2009

Large size of meal, but not overnutrition, appears to be responsible for high-fat-diet induced obesity in rats. The authors propose a consideration that prevention strategies for obesity epidemic should strongly focus on meal size at early childhood and adolescence.

Young LR, Nestle M. The contribution of expanding portion sizes to the US obesity epidemic. American Journal of Public Health. 92(2):246-249. 2002

The authors obtained information about portions from food manufacturers and found that portion sizes began to grow in the 1970s and rose sharply in the 1980s and have continued in parallel with increasing body weights.

Nielsen SJ, Popkin BM. Patterns and trends in food portion sizes, 1977-1998. Journal of the American Medical Association. 289:450-453. 2003

Portion sizes and energy intake for specific food types have increased markedly with greatest increases for food consumed at fast food establishments and in the home.

Rolls BJ, MorrisEL, Roe LS. Portion size of food affects energy intake in normal weight and overweight men and women.  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 76(6) 1207-1213.2002

Larger portions led to greater energy intake regardless of serving method and subject characteristics. Portion size is a modifiable determinant of energy intake that should be addressed in connection with the prevention and treatment of obesity.

Gupta A, Smith SR, Greenway FL, Bray GA. Pioglitazone treatment in type 2 diabetes mellitus when combined with portion control diet modifies the metabolic syndrome. Diabetes Obesity Metabolism. 11(4):330-337. 2009

Pioglitazone plus a portion controlled weight loss diet prevented weight gain, reduced waist circumference and visceral fat compared with Pioglitazone plus the American Diabetes Association diet.