TOPLINE:

A meta-analysis of 22 studies revealed no significant relationship between plate-clearing tendencies and BMI.

METHODOLOGY:

• Current food environments are characterized by larger portions, which increase consumption and may promote weight gain through habitual plate-clearing behavior. However, previous studies on plate clearing and body weight have been inconsistent, reporting small positive associations in some cases and no associations (or negative associations) in others.
• Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 22 studies from 18 reports to examine the correlation between plate-clearing tendencies and BMI. Included studies reported BMI and either used a self-report measure of plate clearing or employed laboratory food-intake methods that clearly categorized participants as having finished their portion.
• Data collection encompassed publication year, sample size, correlation coefficient between the plate-clearing measure and BMI, type of plate-clearing measure, mean age, mean BMI, percentage of women, and country of study.
• The Plate Clearing Tendency Scale, a five-item, internally reliable measure that assesses plate-clearing tendencies as a unidimensional construct, was used in 16 studies; five studies used other self-report measures, and one study measured laboratory food intake.

TAKEAWAY:

• The meta-analysis revealed no significant relationship between plate clearing and BMI (correlation coefficient [r], 0.04; P = .163), with moderate between-study heterogeneity.
• The percentage of female participants moderated the association between plate clearing and BMI, such that in a subset of four studies with fewer than 50% women, a small but significant positive correlation was observed between plate clearing and BMI (r = 0.21; P = .017). In a subset of 13 studies in which the percentage of females was higher than 50%, the relationship between plate clearing and BMI was not significant. (r = 0.01; P = .672).
• The type of self-report also moderated the association as a meta-analysis of the 16 studies using the Plate Clearing Tendency Scale found a small but significant positive correlation between plate clearing and BMI (r = 0.08; P = .041).
• Publication year, mean age, mean BMI, and country of study did not moderate the association.
• The authors reported that most plate clearing appears to be a preplanned behavior rather than a spontaneous act of overeating.

IN PRACTICE:

“It may be speculated that persons who habitually clear their plates have learned to adjust portion sizes in advance, thereby minimizing the risk of caloric overconsumption, which is why they do not have a higher body weight,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Adrian Meule, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. It was published online in Obesity Science and Practice.

LIMITATIONS:

The meta-analysis was primarily based on self-reported plate-clearing tendencies, with only one study measuring actual food intake in a laboratory setting. All included studies used BMI, which is a relatively crude proxy for percent body fat.

DISCLOSURES:

The authors reported having no relevant conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.