Are weight control and food waste a trade-off?: A clustering of pre-meal portion planning and plate-clearing behaviors among Japanese adult consumers

Purpose Plate-clearing behavior (PCB), a maladaptive behavior in a food environment characterized by large, energy-dense portions of food, may contribute to weight gain over time. If a portion size is selected that causes overeating, a trade-off exists between food waste and weight gain due to PCB. However, patterns between PCBs and pre-meal portion planning to prevent overeating (PPP-O) remain overlooked. This study aimed to identify these patterns in various meal situations and describe the demographic, anthropometric, psychological, and lifestyle-related characteristics of those following each pattern. Methods Overall, 1,707 Japanese participants responded to a web-based anonymous questionnaire in February 2023. Cluster analysis was performed to identify patterns in PPP-O and PCB. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used on clusters of participant characteristic variables. Results The median age of the participants was 40 (25th and 75th percentile: 30, 50) years (female = 865, 50.7%). Four clusters with independent predictors were identified: low PPP-O and high PCB, moderate PPP-O and high PCB, moderate PPP-O and low PCB, and high PPP-O and low PCB. Low BMI and a higher positive attitude toward food waste were independent predictors in high PPP-O and low PCB, while high BMI was an independent predictor in moderate PPP-O and high PCBs and low attitude toward food waste were independent predictors in moderate PPP-O and low PCB. Psychological factors were described as independent predictors of several clusters. Conclusion The results support the possibility of a trade-off between food waste and weight gain if PPP-O is not implemented.