# Differences in the Perception of Snacks and Beverages Portion Sizes Depending on Body Mass Index

## TL;DR

This study explores how people with different body mass indexes perceive snack and beverage portion sizes and calories, finding that most people overestimate calories and BMI does not strongly influence perception.

## Contribution

The study reveals that BMI does not significantly affect how people perceive snack portion sizes or calories, but general calorie misestimation is common.

## Key findings

- Most participants overestimated the caloric value of snacks.
- Women perceive highly processed snack portions as larger than men do.
- BMI does not significantly influence perception of portion sizes or calories.

## Abstract

Introduction: The major cause of obesity is excessive calorie intake. Inappropriate dietary habits, like increased meal frequency, portion sizes, or amount of snacks consumed contribute to obesity development. Potential differences in the perception of snacks by people with different BMIs may be one of the causes of obesity. Assessment of the perception of snacks by people with excessive and normal body weight will allow us to check whether this parameter actually has an impact on the development of obesity. Materials and Methods: A survey study was conducted to check differences in assessing different snacks and beverages by individuals with varied BMIs. Participants analyzed snacks on presented photographs and assessed portion sizes, estimated caloric content, assessed whether the meal was healthy, and determined whether the indicated portion would be sufficient to satisfy their hunger. The study population was divided according to body mass index (BMI) into individuals with normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Additionally, the study group was divided according to gender and age. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the majority of the studied parameters concerning BMI; however, the study revealed relatively low education level regarding caloric assessment. Conclusions: BMI seems not to have an influence on calorie and portion size perception of snacks. The majority of the population wrongly assessed the calorific value of snacks, which might contribute to obesity development. People have a tendency to overestimate the caloric value of snacks. Women assess the portion size of highly processed snacks as larger than men do.