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(PTFS11-03-26) Are Chain Restaurants Still Supersizing Menus? Analysis of Menu Item Portion Sizes in the U.S., 2008–2022

Monday, July 27, 2026
8:08 AM - 8:12 AM ET
Location: Prince George's Hall B-E (The Hub) - Poster Theater 2 / Poster Board Number: PT2-3
Disclosure(s):
Yelyzaveta Minaieva, BSPH: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Objectives: Large portions, a characteristic of away-from-home (AFH) foods and beverages, distort consumer perceptions of appropriate meal sizes, promoting overeating. The objectives of this study are to assess portion trends and changes from 2008 to 2021-2022 in menu items served at 100 U.S. chain restaurants, by menu category and restaurant type. 

Methods: Data were obtained from MenuStat between 2008 and 2022 (n= 50,233). Primary outcomes were mean serving size for food in grams (g) and beverages in fluid ounces (fl oz) in 2008 and 2021-2022, the change between these means, and temporal trend p-values. Linear regression models and post-estimation pairwise comparisons were used to estimate the means of item portion sizes, and the p-value for portion trends during the study period was estimated. A joint Wald test was used to test effect modification by restaurant type. 

Results: The initial sample was 23,706 foods and 26,527 beverages. Post exclusions of kids’ meals, combo meals, and packaged products, 15,610 foods and 24,283 beverages were analyzed. Over the studied period, portion sizes for both total food and beverages increased (p for trend < 0.001). From 2008 to 2021-2022, total food portions grew by 13.9 g (95% CI: 6.2, 21.7) and total beverages by 1.2 fl oz (95% CI: 0.7, 1.7). The most notable increases among food categories ( > 10 g/serving) were observed for appetizers, fries, desserts, and main courses. The most notable increases among beverage categories ( > 1.5 fl oz/portion) were observed for carbonated, fruit-flavored, and iced tea and coffee. We also observed differences by restaurant type: in fast-food restaurants, food portions increased by 19.1 g (95% CI: 10.7, 27.5) but decreased in full-service restaurants by 26.3 g (95% CI: -46.3, -6.3). Beverage portions only increased among fast-food restaurants (1.9 fl oz; 95% CI: 1.4, 2.4). 

Conclusions: Portion sizes of AFH foods and beverages increased between 2008 and 2021–2022, especially in fast-food chains; however, these changes were smaller than the increases observed in the early 2000s. Future research should examine whether portions consumed also increased during this time to understand the current role of portion size in public health nutrition.  

Funding Sources: Bloomberg Philanthropies.