For Immediate Release May 14, 2007
Contact: Cristi Allen
callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 817-640-6166

ARLINGTON, Texas—Most Americans believe some restaurants serve portions that are too large, according to a nationwide study by Decision Analyst, a leading international marketing research and marketing consulting firm.

In its ongoing Health and Nutrition Strategist™ syndicated study, Decision Analyst asked 4,156 survey respondents about the amount of food they are served by restaurants. Among all surveyed, 57% agreed completely or agreed somewhat that some restaurants often serve portions that are too large. About 23% of respondents neither agreed nor disagreed, and 20% disagreed completely or disagreed somewhat that restaurant portions are too large.

By gender, 67% of female respondents said restaurant portions are too large, while 47% of male respondents felt the same way. Older respondents (over 65) also tended to think portions are too large (68%), while only 55% of younger folks (18-24) think portions are too large.

Figure 1: Food Portions In Some Restaurants Are Often Too Large
(By Age)

The survey shows that the higher one’s income, the more likely she or he is to believe that portions are too large. For example, 45% of respondents earning under $25,000 annually said food portions are sometimes too large, while 70% of respondents earning at least $150,000 said portions are sometimes too large.

Figure 2: Food Portions In Some Restaurants Are Often Too Large
(By Income)

Those respondents who “Don’t worry about nutrition when they eat out” are much less likely to agree that portions are too large (53%) than those who “Try to make healthy choices when they eat out” (70%).

Methodology

Decision Analyst’s Health and Nutrition Strategist™ was conducted online via its American Consumer Opinion® panel from January 2006 through December 2006 using a nationally representative, statistically balanced sample of 4,156 American adults. The margin of error is plus or minus 2%, at a 99% confidence level. The Health and Nutrition Strategist™ syndicated study is a massive, integrated knowledge-base of food, beverage consumption, restaurant usage, health habits and nutritional attitudes.

About Decision Analyst

Decision Analyst (www.decisionanalyst.com), based in Dallas-Fort Worth, is a leading international marketing research and marketing consulting firm specializing in advertising testing, strategy research, new product development, and advanced modeling for marketing decision optimization. The 28-year-old firm delivers competitive advantage to clients throughout the world in the consumer packaged goods, telecommunications, retail, high technology, medical and pharmaceutical, utilities, and e-commerce industries. In addition, Decision Analyst operates the American Consumer Opinion® online panel, one of the world’s largest consumer opinion panels, with more than seven million participants.

For additional information contact:
Cristi Allen
Publicity
Email: callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 1.800.ANALYSIS (262.5974)
Address: 604 Avenue H East
Arlington, TX 76011

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