Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31835571›Full record

ArticleNutrients2019

Snack Portion Sizes for Preschool Children Are Predicted by Caregiver Portion Size, Caregiver Feeding Practices and Children's Eating Traits.

Sophie Reale, Rebecca M Simpson, Colette Marr, Sharon A Carstairs, Joanne E Cecil, Marion M Hetherington, Samantha J Caton

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrients, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. A systematic review of the relationship between portion size and indexes of adiposity in children.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Sophie RealeSchool of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2421-7661
Rebecca M SimpsonSchool of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-1677-5938
Colette MarrSchool of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.
Sharon A CarstairsPopulation and Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TF, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-6593-5972
Joanne E CecilPopulation and Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TF, UK.
Marion M HetheringtonSchool of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-8677-5234
Samantha J CatonSchool of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-9096-0800

Funding

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BB/M027384/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Caregivers are mostly responsible for the foods young children consume; however, it is unknown how caregivers determine what portion sizes to serve. This study examined factors which predict smaller or larger than recommended snack portion sizes in an online survey. Caregivers of children aged 2 to 4 years were presented with 10 snack images, each photographed in six portion sizes. Caregivers (n = 659) selected the portion they would usually serve themselves and their child for an afternoon snack. Information on child eating traits, parental feeding practices and demographics were provided by caregivers. Most caregivers selected portions in line with recommended amounts for preschool children, demonstrating their ability to match portion sizes to their child's energy requirements. However, 16% of caregivers selected smaller than recommended low energy-dense (LED, e.g., fruits and vegetables) snacks for their child which was associated with smaller caregiver's own portion size, reduced child food liking and increased satiety responsiveness. In contrast, 28% of caregivers selected larger than recommended amounts of high energy-dense (HED, e.g., cookies, crisps) snacks for their child which were associated with larger caregiver's own portion size, greater frequency of consumption, higher child body mass index (BMI), greater pressure to eat and lower child food liking. These findings suggest that most caregivers in this study select portions adjusted to suit their child's age and stage of development. Future interventions could provide support to caregivers regarding the energy and nutrient density of foods given the relatively small portion sizes of LED and large portions of HED snacks offered to some children.

Indexed as

CaregiversChild Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaFeeding BehaviorPortion SizeSnacksAdultChild, PreschoolDietDiet SurveysEnergy IntakeFemaleHumansMaleNutritional RequirementsNutritive ValueParentscaregivershigh energy denselow energy denseportion sizepreschool childrensnacks

Identifiers

PMID31835571
PMCPMC6950396

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.