Meal termination using oral sensory satisfaction: a study in non-obese women

Non-obese individuals limit energy intake and maintain weight long-term. Knowledge of the mechanism they use to accomplish this could help in weight maintenance after weight loss and prevention of unneeded weight gain. The objective of the present study was to determine whether non-obese women use orosensory cues to limit short-term intake of high-energy density foods. Forty non-obese women consumed two high-energy rice puddings of equal energy density, one with high sugar and one with high fat. There were four study conditions. Participants ate until satisfied (basal), satisfied based on taste (taste), satisfied based on fullness (fullness) and while watching television (distraction). The participants were asked to refrain from eating and drinking after 2200. The treatments were done between 0830 and 0900. The order of treatments was randomized and all subjects completed all treatments. The quantity consumed and variation in hunger and taste intensity were the primary measures. Results were subjected to within subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA). Intake was significantly greater in the high-fat groups than in the high-carbohydrate groups (P = 0.0001). Study condition had a significant effect on intake (P = 0.0000) with the taste condition generally resulting in the lowest intake. Hunger intensity significantly decreased after meal intake (P = 0.0156). There was a significant effect of condition (P = 0.0001) with base and taste conditions showing the greatest decrease. In the taste condition, specifically, the intensity of taste and hunger declined after intake (P = 0.0000). These results indicate that taste satisfaction can limit meal intake in non-obese women. Taste satisfaction could be a mechanism that is used to reduce food intake to compensate for previous excess consumption.