The aim of this study was to examine the effect of altering portion sizes and eating rates during the consumption of an extra-large fast-food meal – in relation to energy intake. Participants were 18 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years who ate > 1 fast-food meal each week. All had a BMI exceeding the 80th percentile. A baseline meal comprising chicken nuggets, french fries, and cola was offered in unlimited amounts. During the cross-over study, this meal was represented in three different formats, each providing 125% of the amount consumed at baseline. The three meal formats were as follows: 1 large serving at a single time point, portioned into 4 smaller servings presented at a single time point, or portioned into 4 smaller servings presented at 15-minute intervals. Regardless of the meal format, there were no significant differences in energy intake in kilojoules, or energy intake relative to daily energy expenditure.
