Barbara Jean Rolls

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

Barbara Jean Rolls

Most Recent Publications

High satiety: Evaluating determinants of energy compensation and intake in multiple preloading studies

Barbara J. Rolls, Liane Stevens Roe, Paige M. Cunningham, Kathleen Loralee Keller, Faris M. Zuraikat, 2025, Appetite

Food switching at a meal is positively associated with change in adiposity among children at high-familial risk for obesity

Nicholas V. Neuwald, Alaina Pearce, Paige M. Cunningham, Marissa N. Setzenfand, Lauren Koczwara, Barbara J. Rolls, Kathleen Loralee Keller, 2025, Appetite

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

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

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

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

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

Feb 12, 2025

Why you should worry less about ultra-processed foods

These foods appear to drive overeating because they're so calorie-dense, not necessarily because of the processing.

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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.

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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.”

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Jul 01, 2024

6 Reasons to Drink Water

It's no magic bullet, but the benefits of water are many.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Jan 05, 2022

WTAJ News at 6

This local TV news segment features Barbara Rolls, professor and Helen A. Guthrie Chair of Nutritional Sciences.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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