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Same Behaviors. In a study by Wansink and Park, people in a movie theater were given a medium (120g) or large (240g) bucket of popcorn. Subjects were divided into two groups based on whether they thought the taste was favorable or unfavorable. Larger portion sizes had the effect of increasing the amount eaten regardless of how the participants rated the taste of the popcorn.
Some studies show the same behavior in children. In a study by Fisher et al., 30 preschool-age children (mean age, 4 years; range, 2.9-5.1) were evaluated during two series of lunches in which either an age-appropriate portion or a large portion of an entrée along with side dishes was served. Doubling of an age-appropriate portion resulted in a significant increase in the energy intake from the entrée by 25% and total energy intake from the meal by 15%. These increases were not significantly related to sex, order of the portion sizes served, or age. However, another study of preschool-age children suggests that increasing portion size resulted in increased food intake among 5-year-olds, but had no influence on the amount consumed by 3½-year-olds. This suggests that children may lose the ability to adjust their food intake to meet their energy needs when given larger portions sizes. Same Behaviors.