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Liquid versus solid carbohydrate: effects on food intake and body weight
1Purdue University, Department of Foods and Nutrition, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1264, USA.
Summary
Consuming liquid carbohydrates leads to weight gain due to poor dietary compensation, unlike solid carbohydrates which promote precise energy balance. This highlights the risk of energy-yielding beverages in weight management.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Dietary Metabolism
- Energy Balance Research
Background:
- Beverages increasingly contribute energy to diets.
- Liquid energy sources often trigger weak compensatory eating responses.
- This can elevate the risk of positive energy balance and weight gain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of matched liquid versus solid carbohydrate intake on dietary consumption.
- To investigate the impact of liquid and solid carbohydrate loads on body weight regulation.
- To assess the differential impact on energy balance and body composition.
Main Methods:
- Cross-over design study with 15 participants (7 males, 8 females).
- Consumption of 1880 kJ/day as liquid (soda) or solid (jelly beans) for 4 weeks each, with a 4-week washout period.
- Measurements included diet records, weekly body composition, physical activity, and hunger levels.
Main Results:
- Solid carbohydrate intake led to precise dietary energy compensation (118%) with no increase in intake.
- Liquid carbohydrate intake resulted in negative compensation (-17%), with total energy intake increasing by the load amount.
- Significant increases in body weight and BMI were observed only during the liquid carbohydrate period.
Conclusions:
- Liquid carbohydrate consumption promotes positive energy balance and subsequent weight gain.
- Solid carbohydrate intake, when matched for energy, elicits precise dietary compensation.
- Increased intake of energy-dense fluids may be a significant factor in positive energy balance and obesity.