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OverweightNCT01384552

Do Weight Status and the Level of Dietary Restraint Moderate the Relationship Between Package Unit Size and Food Intake?

A study testing Package Unit Size - Single Serving and Package Unit Size - Standard in people with Overweight, run by The University of Tennessee, Knoxville at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The objective of this study is to determine the independent and combined effects of weight status and the level of dietary restraint on the relationship between package unit size and food intake. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 35 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Overweight
What is being tested?
Package Unit Size - Single Serving and Package Unit Size - Standard
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
64 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Jun 2011to Oct 2011
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 35 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Male and females aged 18-35 years old.
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 or BMI between 25-39.9 kg/m2.
  • For normal weight groups: BMI of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2.
  • For overweight groups: BMI of 25-39.9 kg/m2.
  • Dietary restraint scores of either less than or equal to 12 or > 12 on the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-Cognitive Restraint scale (TFEQ-R) [10].
  • For unrestrained groups: less than or equal to 12.
Show all 12Show fewer
  • For restrained groups: > 12.
  • Do not have unfavorable preference toward pretzels.
  • Do not have allergies to pretzel ingredients.
  • Do not have a health condition or use medication that affects eating or requires a therapeutic diet.
  • Must have a consistent schedule during the time of the study.
  • Must agree to instructions to not share pretzel snack packages with others.

Who cannot join

  • BMI below 18.5 or above 39.9 kg/m2.
  • Have an unfavorable preference toward pretzels.
  • Have allergies to pretzel ingredients (wheat flour).
  • Severe allergies to nuts - Synder's of Hanover pretzels are made in a facility that handles peanut butter.
  • Are unwilling to consume pretzels during the time of the study.
  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Do not meet one or more of the other above mentioned eligibility requirements.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory

    Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996

Other trials in United States

About this study

The objective of this study is to determine the independent and combined effects of weight status and the level of dietary restraint on the relationship between package unit size and food intake.

Read the detailed description

The estimated prevalence of obesity among adults in 2007-2008 was 33.8% and the combined estimated prevalence of overweight and obesity was 68.0% [1]. Although there are no clear reasons for the current obesity epidemic, there is a general consensus that environmental dietary factors, such as package unit size, encourage excessive food intake and positive energy balance [2, 3]. It is believed that the package unit size of food indirectly influences food intake by impacting the accuracy of consumption monitoring [2, 4]. Large packages decrease the accuracy of consumption monitoring by making it difficult to assess how many servings have been consumed in one sitting, while small single-serving packages can increase the accuracy of consumption monitoring by providing a clear definition of what a standard serving is and how much one has consumed [2, 4, 5]. Therefore, it has been proposed that small, single-serving packages of snack foods may help reduce energy intake [4, 5]. To date, limited studies have been conducted in this area and the results are inconsistent [4-9]. Mixed results could be related to differences in participant variables, specifically weight status and level of dietary restraint (a term that refers to the amount of control exerted over food intake) [4, 9]. These individual characteristics may interact with food package unit size to influence one's food intake [2, 4]. Overweight individuals or restrained eaters may more closely monitor the volume of food they consume as compared to normal weight or unrestrained eaters [4, 9]. The [smaller] size of food packaging may aid in monitoring food consumption and thus, influence how much food is consumed in overweight and/or restrained eaters [2, 4]. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine if weight status and the level of dietary restraint moderate the relationship between package unit size and food intake.

Specific Aims:

  1. Determine the effect of dietary restraint on the relationship between package unit size and food intake.
  2. Determine the effect of weight status on the relationship between package unit size and food intake.
  3. Determine the combined effect of weight status and dietary restraint on the relationship between package unit size and food intake.
Conditions
Overweight
Being tested
Package Unit Size - Single Serving, Package Unit Size - Standard
Keywords
normal weight, overweight, dietary restraint, package unit size, food intake
Medical subject headings
Overweight

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Package Unit Size - Single ServingOther

    Participants will receive a box of twenty-two, 0.9-oz. packages of pretzels. Participants will receive the box of pretzels in the lab on a Thursday or Friday and will take the box of pretzels home for a period of four days. Participants will bring back the box of pretzels to the lab on the following Monday or Tuesday (depending on the day of the initial receipt of pretzels).

  • Package Unit Size - StandardOther

    Participants will receive a box of two, 10-oz. packages of pretzels. Participants will receive the box of pretzels in the lab on a Thursday or Friday and will take the box of pretzels home for a period of four days. Participants will bring back the box of pretzels to the lab on the following Monday or Tuesday (depending on the day of the initial receipt of pretzels).

Study groups in NCT01384552
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Normal Weight, Unrestrained - StandardActive comparatorEach participant is of normal weight (BMI: 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) and is classified as an unrestrained eater (scoring less than or equal to 12 on the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire - Cognitive Restraint Scale).
Receives: Other: Package Unit Size - Standard
Normal Weight, Restrained - Single ServingActive comparatorEach participant is of normal weight (BMI: 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) and is classified as a restrained eater (scoring greater than 12 on the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire - Cognitive Restraint Scale).
Receives: Other: Package Unit Size - Single Serving
Normal Weight, Restrained - StandardActive comparatorEach participant is of normal weight (BMI: 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) and is classified as a restrained eater (scoring greater than 12 on the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire - Cognitive Restraint Scale).
Receives: Other: Package Unit Size - Standard
Overweight, Unrestrained - Single ServingActive comparatorEach participant is overweight (BMI: 25-39.9 kg/m2) and is classified as an unrestrained eater (scoring less than or equal to 12 on the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire - Cognitive Restraint Scale).
Receives: Other: Package Unit Size - Single Serving
Overweight, Unrestrained - StandardActive comparatorEach participant is overweight (BMI: 25-39.9 kg/m2) and is classified as an unrestrained eater (scoring less than or equal to 12 on the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire - Cognitive Restraint Scale).
Receives: Other: Package Unit Size - Standard
Overweight, Restrained - Single ServingActive comparatorEach participant is overweight (BMI: 25-39.9 kg/m2) and is classified as a restrained eater (scoring greater than 12 on the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire - Cognitive Restraint Scale).
Receives: Other: Package Unit Size - Single Serving
Overweight, Restrained - StandardActive comparatorEach participant is overweight (BMI: 25-39.9 kg/m2) and is classified as a restrained eater (scoring greater than 12 on the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire - Cognitive Restraint Scale).
Receives: Other: Package Unit Size - Standard
Normal Weight, Unrestrained - Single ServingActive comparatorEach participant is of normal weight (BMI: 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) and is classified as an unrestrained eater (scoring less than or equal to 12 on the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire - Cognitive Restraint Scale).
Receives: Other: Package Unit Size - Single Serving

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Total grams of pretzels consumed.

    Total grams of pretzels consumed by participants over the 4-day study period will be determined by subtracting pre- and post-consumption weight of snack packages provided.

    Measured: 4 days

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Jun 2011 (estimated)
  2. Study startJun 2011
  3. Primary completionOct 2011
  4. Study completionOct 2011

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Factorial
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
64 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01384552
Sponsor's protocol ID
8573 B
Status last verified
Apr 2018
First submitted
25 Jun 2011
Last updated
5 Apr 2018
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, Curtin LR. Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2008. JAMA. 2010 Jan 20;303(3):235-41. doi: 10.1001/jama.2009.2014. Epub 2010 Jan 13.

    PubMed 20071471
  • French SA, Story M, Jeffery RW. Environmental influences on eating and physical activity. Annu Rev Public Health. 2001;22:309-35. doi: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.22.1.309.

    PubMed 11274524
  • Wansink B. Environmental factors that increase the food intake and consumption volume of unknowing consumers. Annu Rev Nutr. 2004;24:455-79. doi: 10.1146/annurev.nutr.24.012003.132140.

    PubMed 15189128
  • Raynor HA, Wing RR. Package unit size and amount of food: do both influence intake? Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007 Sep;15(9):2311-9. doi: 10.1038/oby.2007.274.

    PubMed 17890500
  • Stroebele N, Ogden LG, Hill JO. Do calorie-controlled portion sizes of snacks reduce energy intake? Appetite. 2009 Jun;52(3):793-796. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2009.02.015. Epub 2009 Mar 6.

    PubMed 19501784
  • Devitt AA, Mattes RD. Effects of food unit size and energy density on intake in humans. Appetite. 2004 Apr;42(2):213-20. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2003.10.003.

    PubMed 15010185
  • Raynor HA, Van Walleghen EL, Niemeier H, Butryn ML, Wing RR. Do food provisions packaged in single-servings reduce energy intake at breakfast during a brief behavioral weight-loss intervention? J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 Nov;109(11):1922-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2009.08.009.

    PubMed 19857636
  • Freedman MR, Brochado C. Reducing portion size reduces food intake and plate waste. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010 Sep;18(9):1864-6. doi: 10.1038/oby.2009.480. Epub 2009 Dec 24.

    PubMed 20035274
  • Wansink B, Payne CR, Shimizu M. The 100-calorie semi-solution: sub-packaging most reduces intake among the heaviest. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2011 May;19(5):1098-100. doi: 10.1038/oby.2010.306. Epub 2011 Jan 13.

    PubMed 21233814
  • Stunkard AJ, Messick S. The three-factor eating questionnaire to measure dietary restraint, disinhibition and hunger. J Psychosom Res. 1985;29(1):71-83. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(85)90010-8.

    PubMed 3981480

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Package Unit Size - Single Serving and Package Unit Size - Standard in people with Overweight, run by The University of Tennessee, Knoxville at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 12 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Apr 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Total grams of pretzels consumed. (time frame: 4 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01384552, which also lists 10 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Apr 2018.

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