Assessment of Portion Sizes and Energy Intake Among Commercial Bank Employees in Lagos, Lagos State

Portion distortion, defined as the tendency to underestimate serving sizes of commonly consumed foods, is an emerging dietary behaviour concern linked to excessive energy intake and weight gain among working adults. This study assesses habitual portion sizes and estimated energy intake among commercial bank employees in Mainland and Lagos Island, Lagos State, South West Nigeria. The demanding work culture of Nigerian banking, characterised by extended work hours and reliance on vendor-prepared meals, creates conditions for irregular eating and inappropriate portion consumption. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 220 permanent staff aged 22 to 50 years from four commercial banks. Dietary data were collected using a combination of a 24-hour dietary recall and a photographic portion size estimation tool validated for Nigerian foods. Energy and macronutrient intakes were calculated using a food composition table adapted for Nigerian foods. Body mass index and waist circumference were measured to characterise weight status. Perceived stress level and work hours were recorded as contextual variables. Findings are expected to reveal that lunchtime meals constitute the largest caloric load of the day, with portion sizes of carbohydrate-rich dishes exceeding recommended servings. The study recommends worksite nutrition education and policy on catering standards for corporate organisations in Lagos. Keywords: portion sizes, energy intake, bank employees, Lagos, dietary assessment.