HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Snacking Begets Bigger Snacks

Study Abstract

BACKGROUND:
The sensory attributes of foods may have an important influence on intake because of sensory-specific satiety (SSS). Foods with high SSS may aid in body weight maintenance as a result of termination of consumption before metabolic satiety. No studies have investigated whether long-term exposure to a food might change SSS or how this affects food intake.

OBJECTIVE:
The objective was to compare the effects of daily consumption of 3 energy-dense snack foods (hazelnuts, chocolate, and potato chips) for 12 wk on SSS and ad libitum intake during a tasting session.

DESIGN:
One hundred eighteen participants took part in this randomized, controlled, parallel study with 4 arms: control group (no additional food) or ∼1100 kJ/d for each snack. SSS, food intake, and body composition were measured at baseline and at week 12.

RESULTS:
Daily consumption of snacks for 12 wk resulted in a statistically significant reduction in SSS in all 3 snack groups (P = 0.015). However, no such changes were seen in the control group (P = 0.608). Ad libitum energy intake increased over the study during the tasting sessions for the snack food across all groups, including the control group (P = 0.039). Inverse associations were found between baseline SSS and BMI (P = 0.039), percentage body fat (P = 0.013), and fat mass (P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION:
Habitual consumption of a high energy-dense snack food results in a decrease in SSS, which could lead to a higher energy intake of the snack.

Study Information

Tey SL, Brown RC, Gray AR, Chisholm AW, Delahunty CM.
Long-term consumption of high energy-dense snack foods on sensory-specific satiety and intake.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
2012 April
Departments of Human Nutrition and Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand