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Published on: June 4, 2014
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Variety, palatability, and obesity.
1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom fiona.johnson@ucl.ac.uk.
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)
|November 16, 2014
Summary
Highly palatable and varied foods in Western environments promote overeating and weight gain. Individual susceptibility to these food characteristics is key, highlighting the need for public health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Western food environments feature highly palatable and varied food options.
- Laboratory studies show palatability and variety stimulate appetite, delay satiety, and increase energy intake.
- Animal models demonstrate that increased food variety and palatability lead to weight gain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of food palatability and variety on eating behavior and weight gain.
- To identify gaps in understanding the impact of food environments on human obesity.
- To explore the role of individual differences in susceptibility to palatability effects.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of laboratory investigations on eating behavior in humans and animals.
- Analysis of evidence regarding the effects of food palatability and variety on food intake and weight.
- Examination of individual differences in response to palatable foods.
Main Results:
- Palatability and variety robustly affect short-term food intake.
- Increased variety and palatability cause weight gain in animal models.
- Human studies lack data on the magnitude of these effects on weight in naturalistic settings.
Conclusions:
- Individual susceptibility to palatability is a critical factor in weight gain vulnerability.
- Further epidemiologic and intervention studies are needed to translate findings into public health strategies.
- Regulation of the food environment may be necessary to combat rising obesity rates.
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