Research
Energy balance
Marketplace food portion sizes have significantly increased since the 1970s, exceeding federal standards and contributing to increased caloric intake and obesity.
Be aware that restaurant and packaged food portions have grown significantly since the 1970s, often exceeding federal guidelines. To manage weight, consciously compare your plate to standard serving sizes rather than assuming the entire portion is appropriate for your caloric needs.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Our data indicate that marketplace portions of foods that are major contributors of energy to US diets have increased significantly since the 1970s and exceed federal standards for dietary guidance and food labels.
Why this rating
Observational study with strong historical data but no controlled intervention trial.
Source
The Contribution of Expanding Portion Sizes to the US Obesity Epidemic
Lisa R. Young et al. · American Journal of Public Health · 2002
DOI 10.2105/ajph.92.2.246
cross_sectionalCited 1,154×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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