Accuracy in estimating and recalling portion sizes of foods among elderly adults

This study examined older adults' abilities to estimate portion sizes of foods and remember these amounts. Ninety-four men and women 58 years and older were asked to judge portion sizes of two sets of 5 foods without using portion-size measurement aids. Subjects were also given memory tests. Subjects were given an unannounced recall test for the foods and amounts they estimated later the same day and again the following day. Results indicated that many elderly subjects could not accurately estimate quantities of foods or remember the amounts they had estimated. Most answers were within 25 to 50 percent of subjects' original estimates. Recent use of measuring utensils improved the accuracy of estimated amounts, and memory performance was weakly associated with accurate recall of amounts. We concluded that elderly people do not retain precise mental images of portion sizes but have general concepts of the amounts. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.