BACKGROUND: Portion-size estimation is an important component of weight management. Literacy and numeracy skills may be important for accurate portion-size estimation. It was hypothesized that low literacy and numeracy would be associated with decreased accuracy in portion estimation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of primary care patients was performed from July 2006 to August 2007; analyses were performed from January 2008 to October 2008. Literacy and numeracy were assessed with validated measures (the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine and the Wide Range Achievement Test, third edition). For three solid-food items and one liquid item, participants were asked to serve both a single serving and a specified weight or volume amount representing a single serving. Portion-size estimation was considered accurate if it fell within +/-25% of a single standard serving. RESULTS: Of 164 participants, 71% were women, 64% were white, and mean (SD) BMI was 30.6 (8.3) kg/m(2). While 91% reported completing high school, 24% had <9th-grade literacy skills and 67% had <9th-grade numeracy skills. When all items were combined, 65% of participants were accurate when asked to serve a single serving, and 62% were accurate when asked to serve a specified amount. In unadjusted analyses, both literacy and numeracy were associated with inaccurate estimation. In multivariate analyses, only lower literacy was associated with inaccuracy in serving a single serving (OR=2.54; 95% CI=1.11, 5.81). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, many participants had poor portion-size estimation skills. Lower literacy skills were associated with less accuracy when participants were asked to serve a single serving. Opportunities may exist to improve portion-size estimation by addressing literacy.
BACKGROUND: Portion-size estimation is an important component of weight management. Literacy and numeracy skills may be important for accurate portion-size estimation. It was hypothesized that low literacy and numeracy would be associated with decreased accuracy in portion estimation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of primary care patients was performed from July 2006 to August 2007; analyses were performed from January 2008 to October 2008. Literacy and numeracy were assessed with validated measures (the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine and the Wide Range Achievement Test, third edition). For three solid-food items and one liquid item, participants were asked to serve both a single serving and a specified weight or volume amount representing a single serving. Portion-size estimation was considered accurate if it fell within +/-25% of a single standard serving. RESULTS: Of 164 participants, 71% were women, 64% were white, and mean (SD) BMI was 30.6 (8.3) kg/m(2). While 91% reported completing high school, 24% had <9th-grade literacy skills and 67% had <9th-grade numeracy skills. When all items were combined, 65% of participants were accurate when asked to serve a single serving, and 62% were accurate when asked to serve a specified amount. In unadjusted analyses, both literacy and numeracy were associated with inaccurate estimation. In multivariate analyses, only lower literacy was associated with inaccuracy in serving a single serving (OR=2.54; 95% CI=1.11, 5.81). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, many participants had poor portion-size estimation skills. Lower literacy skills were associated with less accuracy when participants were asked to serve a single serving. Opportunities may exist to improve portion-size estimation by addressing literacy.
Authors: Dean Schillinger; Kevin Grumbach; John Piette; Frances Wang; Dennis Osmond; Carolyn Daher; Jorge Palacios; Gabriela Diaz Sullivan; Andrew B Bindman Journal: JAMA Date: 2002 Jul 24-31 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Mary Margaret Huizinga; Bettina M Beech; Kerri L Cavanaugh; Tom A Elasy; Russell L Rothman Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring) Date: 2008-06-05 Impact factor: 5.002
Authors: Chandra Y Osborn; Kenneth A Wallston; Adam Shpigel; Kerri Cavanaugh; Sunil Kripalani; Russell L Rothman Journal: Patient Educ Couns Date: 2013-02-21
Authors: EunEeok Cha; Kevin H Kim; Hannah M Lerner; Colleen R Dawkins; Morenike K Bello; Guillermo Umpierrez; Sandra B Dunbar Journal: Am J Health Behav Date: 2014-05
Authors: Jason L Vassy; Kelsey E O'Brien; Jessica L Waxler; Elyse R Park; Linda M Delahanty; Jose C Florez; James B Meigs; Richard W Grant Journal: Med Decis Making Date: 2012-01-12 Impact factor: 2.583
Authors: Matthew K Taylor; Debra K Sullivan; Edward F Ellerbeck; Byron J Gajewski; Heather D Gibbs Journal: Public Health Nutr Date: 2019-05-31 Impact factor: 4.022
Authors: Richard O White; Jessica R Thompson; Russell L Rothman; Amanda M McDougald Scott; William J Heerman; Evan C Sommer; Shari L Barkin Journal: Patient Educ Couns Date: 2013-08-19