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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)

Age Agreed Completely/ Somewhat Neither Agreed Nor Disagreed Disagreed Completely/ Somewhat 18 to 24 55% 21% 25% 25 to 34 57% 23% 20% 35 to 44 54% 26% 21% 45 to 54 51% 26% 24% 55 to 64 58% 25% 18% 65 or older 68% 19% 13%

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

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)

Income Agreed Completely/ Somewhat Neither Agreed Nor Disagreed Disagreed Completely/ Somewhat Under $25,000 45% 28% 27% $25,000 to $49,999 57% 23% 20% $50,000 to $99,999 62% 20% 18% $100,000 to $149,999 65% 23% 12% $150,000 or more 70% 19% 11%

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

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%).

Agree With The Statement	Agree Restaurant Portions Are Too Large
“I don’t worry about nutrition when I eat out”	53%
“When I eat out I try to make healthy choices”	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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