Barbara Jean Rolls
Professor and Helen A. Guthrie Chair of Nutritional Sciences; Professor of Biobehavioral Health

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0226 Henderson Bldg
University Park, PA 16802 - bjr4@psu.edu
- 814-863-8572
Links
Most Recent Publications
Eating in the Absence of Hunger Is a Stable Predictor of Adiposity Gains in Middle Childhood
Yashaswini R. Bhat, Barbara Jean Rolls, Stephen J. Wilson, Emma Jane Rose, Charles Geier, Bari Fuchs, Hugh Garavan, Kathleen L. Keller, 2024, Journal of Nutrition on p. 3726-3739
Response to E Satter and B Lohse
Kathleen L. Keller, Alaina L. Pearce, Bari Fuchs, Barbara Jean Rolls, Stephen Wilson, Charles Geier, Emma Jane Rose, Hugh Garavan, 2024, Journal of Nutrition on p. 3854-3855
PACE: a Novel Eating Behavior Phenotype to Assess Risk for Obesity in Middle Childhood
Kathleen L. Keller, Alaina L. Pearce, Bari Fuchs, Barbara J. Rolls, Stephen J. Wilson, C Geier, E Rose, Hugh Garavan, 2024, Journal of Nutrition on p. 2176-2187
Switching between foods is reliably associated with intake across eating events in children
N. V. Neuwald, Alaina Pearce, P. M. Cunningham, L. Koczwara, M. N. Setzenfand, B. J. Rolls, Kathleen Loralee Keller, 2024, Appetite
Child eating behaviors are consistently linked to intake across meals that vary in portion size
Alaina Pearce, N. V. Neuwald, J. S. Evans, O. Romano, B. J. Rolls, Kathleen Loralee Keller, 2024, Appetite
The Cerebellar Response to Visual Portion Size Cues Is Associated with the Portion Size Effect in Children
Bari Fuchs, Alaina Pearce, Barbara J. Rolls, Stephen J. Wilson, E Rose, C Geier, Hough Garavan, Kathleen L. Keller, 2024, Nutrients
Fibre-rich Foods to Treat Obesity and Prevent Colon Cancer trial study protocol: a randomised clinical trial of fibre-rich legumes targeting the gut microbiome, metabolome and gut transit time of overweight and obese patients with a history of noncancerous adenomatous polyps
Terryl J. Hartman, Jennifer Christie, Annette Wilson, Thomas R. Ziegler, Barbara Methe, William Dana Flanders, Barbara J. Rolls, Blaine Loye Eberhart, Jia V. Li, Helaina Huneault, Ben Cousineau, Miriam R. Perez, Stephen J.D. O'Keefe, 2024, BMJ Open
The Influence of portion size on eating and drinking
F Zuraikat, A Smethers, Barbara Rolls, 2024,
Does ‘portion size’ matter? Brain responses to food and non-food cues presented in varying amounts
Bari Fuchs, Alaina Pearce, Barbara J. Rolls, Stephen Wilson, E Rose, C Geier, Kathleen Keller, 2024, Appetite on p. 107289
Evaluation of Hunger, Food Intake, and Body Weight
Barbara J. Rolls, David J. Shide, 2024, on p. 275-287
Most-Cited Papers
NIH working group report: Innovative research to improve maintenance of weight loss
Paul S. MacLean, Rena R. Wing, Terry Davidson, Leonard Epstein, Bret Goodpaster, Kevin D. Hall, Barry E. Levin, Michael G. Perri, Barbara J. Rolls, Michael Rosenbaum, Alexander J. Rothman, Donna Ryan, 2015, Obesity on p. 7-15
Dietary Management of Obesity: Cornerstones of Healthy Eating Patterns
Alissa D. Smethers, Barbara J. Rolls, 2018, Medical Clinics of North America on p. 107-124
Dietary energy density: Applying behavioural science to weight management
B. J. Rolls, 2017, Nutrition Bulletin on p. 246-253
Weighing the Evidence of Common Beliefs in Obesity Research
Krista Casazza, Andrew Brown, Arne Astrup, Fredrik Bertz, Charles Baum, Michelle Bohan Brown, John Dawson, Nefertiti Durant, Gareth Dutton, David A. Fields, Kevin R. Fontaine, Steven Heymsfield, David Levitsky, Tapan Mehta, Nir Menachemi, P. K. Newby, Russell Pate, Hollie Raynor, Barbara J. Rolls, Bisakha Sen, Daniel L. Smith, Diana Thomas, Brian Wansink, David B. Allison, 2015, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition on p. 2014-2053
Double trouble: Portion size and energy density combine to increase preschool children's lunch intake
Samantha M.R. Kling, Liane S. Roe, Kathleen L. Keller, Barbara J. Rolls, 2016, Physiology and Behavior on p. 18-26
Portion size has sustained effects over 5 days in preschool children: A randomized trial
Alissa D. Smethers, Liane S. Roe, Christine E. Sanchez, Faris M. Zuraikat, Kathleen L. Keller, Samantha M.R. Kling, Barbara J. Rolls, 2019, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on p. 1361-1372
What is eaten when all of the foods at a meal are served in large portions?
Liane S. Roe, Samantha M.R. Kling, Barbara J. Rolls, 2016, Appetite on p. 1-9
Dietary energy density and obesity: how consumption patterns differ by body weight status
Jacqueline A. Vernarelli, Diane C. Mitchell, Barbara J. Rolls, Terryl J. Hartman, 2018, Zeitschrift fur Ernahrungswissenschaft on p. 351-361
Feeding Strategies Derived from Behavioral Economics and Psychology Can Increase Vegetable Intake in Children as Part of a Home-Based Intervention: Results of a Pilot Study
Terri L. Cravener, Haley Schlechter, Katharine L. Loeb, Cynthia Radnitz, Marlene Schwartz, Nancy Zucker, Stacey Finkelstein, Y. Claire Wang, Barbara J. Rolls, Kathleen L. Keller, 2015, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on p. 1798-1807
Understanding the science of portion control and the art of downsizing
Marion M. Hetherington, Pam Blundell-Birtill, Samantha J. Caton, Joanne E. Cecil, Charlotte E. Evans, Barbara J. Rolls, Tang Tang, 2018, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society on p. 347-355
News Articles Featuring Barbara Jean Rolls
Jan 28, 2025
Have you been overeating without realising it? Here's why the 80% full rule is good for you
You could be ignoring your body’s signals of fullness.
Full Article
Nov 20, 2024
With the new year, establish new healthy habits with Volumetrics series
Anyone interested in managing weight while eating satisfying and nutritious foods can learn about a science-based way to accomplish those goals by attending a six-part Penn State Extension series, “The Volumetrics Weigh of Life: Weight Management Plan.”
Full Article
Jul 01, 2024
6 Reasons to Drink Water
It's no magic bullet, but the benefits of water are many.
Full Article
Aug 07, 2023
Why do we always have room for dessert?
Adding variety to your diet may cause you to eat more than you need to
Full Article
Jan 12, 2023
Best Weight-Loss Diets of 2022, Ranked
Winter is a pivotal season. It’s often a turning point for those who’ve been dragging their feet about making healthier choices, like moving more and eating healthier. That’s why, each year, U.S. News & World Report evaluates the most popular diets, and ranks them by category.
Full Article
Jan 06, 2023
Penn State professor’s diet named in the top 10 for overall best weight lost
Each year, the Volumetrics plan has consistently been recommended when people have looked to U.S. News & World Report rankings for advice on diets to improve their health or manage their weight.
Full Article
Jan 03, 2023
Volumetrics again ranked as one of the nation’s best diets
Each year, the Volumetrics plan has consistently been recommended when people have looked to U.S. News & World Report rankings for advice on diets to improve their health or manage their weight.
Full Article
Jan 05, 2022
WTAJ News at 6
This local TV news segment features Barbara Rolls, professor and Helen A. Guthrie Chair of Nutritional Sciences.
Full Article
Nov 26, 2021
Why You Always Have Room for Pie
One of the more curious phenomena of the Thanksgiving meal is how we can feel completely full, yet somehow always find room for dessert.
Full Article
Feb 17, 2021
Volumetrics Diet: lose weight by eating more
Food. We need it to survive. We consume it every day. Yet, sometimes food has the power to consume us.
Full Article
Oct 13, 2020
Tips To Be Fit: How important is water to trying to lose weight?
We have all heard that to curve your appetite just drink water to make your stomach feel full and you won’t eat as much. “Water doesn’t help you eat less,” says Barbara Rolls, a nutritionist at Penn State University. The body has different satiety points for food and water, and one doesn’t translate to the other. But eating foods high in water content could satisfy appetite and curb calorie consumption.
Full Article
Jun 27, 2020
Obesity: America’s number one export?
Food research by the U.S. military, particularly World War II, led to the creation of processed wartime rations. After the Allied victory, the world largely adopted America's processed-food diet, a key factor for the global obesity crisis.
Full Article
Jan 17, 2020
Penn State Professor’s Diet Plan Ranked Second-Best For Weight Loss
Penn State students who have a New Year’s Resolution involving eating healthier can follow an award-winning diet plan that was developed at Penn State.
Full Article
Jan 07, 2020
You can be full and have room for dessert
Those with a sweet tooth will be well versed in feeling full but having space for pudding. Good news for many, an expert claims “dessert stomach” is not only real, but part of our evolution.
Full Article
Jan 04, 2020
Weight loss diet developed at Penn State ranked second-best for 2020
A weight loss diet created by a nutritionist at Penn State University has been ranked one of the best to follow in 2020 for those looking to shed pounds.
Full Article
Jan 02, 2020
Weight-loss plan developed at Penn State ties for No. 2 ranking
If eating healthier is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, you may need to look no further than Volumetrics, a diet developed by Penn State Professor of Nutrition Barbara Rolls that has tied for the No. 2 weight-loss plan in this year’s U.S. News & World Report's "Best Diets."
Full Article
Dec 27, 2019
Ist es normal, dass... du immer Nachtisch essen kannst, auch wenn du satt bist?
Zur Vorspeise Häppchen, vielleicht ein bisschen Suppe, dann der Braten mit viel Soße, Kartoffeln, Gemüse – bei einem großen Fest gemeinsam mit Familie und Freunden gönnst wahrscheinlich auch du dir so richtig was.
Full Article
Dec 20, 2019
Warum ist für Nachtisch immer Platz?
Barbara Jean Rolls erforscht Ernährungsgewohnheiten an der Pennsylvania State University. Hier erklärt sie, warum Vielfalt das Aufnahmevermögen steigert - nicht nur beim Essen.
Full Article
Nov 07, 2019
6 super-filling foods you should be eating If you're always hungry
If hunger is your middle name and hanger follows you like the plague, your diet may be missing the ingredients that deliver sustainable energy and help keep big appetites at bay. A telltale sign is feeling ravenous when your SmartPoints® Budget is near its limit. For a fast fix, start eating the foods that can help you feel full longer—so you spend your days feeling satisfied, not starving.
Full Article
Sep 24, 2019
10 Simple Ways to Eat Less and Still Feel Full
When you want to lose weight, one of the first pieces of advice you’ll hear is “eat less.” But consider the following research from Penn State University.
Full Article
Sep 12, 2019
Can Smaller Plates Really Trick Your Brain Into Eating Less?
If you’re struggling to shed frustrating pounds, you’ve probably tried looking up every trick in the book. One popular technique you may have come across is swapping out larger plates for small ones when dishing out your meals. It's so simple, but does it work?
Full Article
Jul 17, 2019
How processed food makes us fat
For many years, I’ve steadfastly clung to a position for which there has been almost no evidence: Processed food is the root of obesity.
Full Article
Jun 27, 2019
What Is the Satiating Diet? A Scientific Review of Its Benefits, Plus 10 Foods You’ll Eat
This diet plan doesn’t cut out any food groups and has the potential to help you lose weight, registered dietitians say.
Full Article
May 16, 2019
‘Ultraprocessed’ foods may make you eat more, clinical trial suggests
Something about the industrial processing of food makes us more likely to overeat, according to a new study. Volunteers ate more and gained more weight on a heavily processed diet than an unprocessed one, even when the two diets had the same available calories and nutrients.
Full Article
Apr 15, 2019
Portion size has a 'powerful effect' on eating patterns among kids, study shows
Young kids (aged 3 to 5) were found to be highly susceptible to overeating when given larger portion sizes, challenging the "self-regulation" theory, in which children are claimed to have a natural ability to respond to internal cues of hunger and fullness and adjust eating patterns accordingly, a study by researchers at Penn State suggested.
Full Article