TUESDAY, Aug. 1 (HealthDay News) -- An adjustable wedge is more accurate than a ruler in estimating the portion size of wedge-shaped foods such as cake and pizza in about one-third of cases, although substantial misestimation still occurs, according to a report in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Sandria Godwin, Ph.D., R.D., from Tennessee State University in Nashville, and colleagues developed an adjustable wedge to help estimate portion size for wedge-shaped foods such as pie, cake and pizza. They then tested the wedge on 320 individuals in four states on various sizes and types of wedge-shaped foods in comparison with a ruler.
The researchers found that there was substantial misestimation of portion size using either the ruler or the adjustable wedge, indicating that "regardless of aid, some people have difficulty estimating portions of wedge-shaped foods." In about one-third of the cases, the adjustable wedge was more accurate than a ruler.
"The adjustable wedge was easy for people to use and can be recommended as an option for estimating portion size of wedge-shaped foods," Godwin and colleagues conclude.
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