The effect of dairy products and non-dairy snacks on food intake, subjective appetite and cortisol levels in children: a randomized control study.

Dairy snacks are available in various physical forms and their consumption is linked to improved metabolic health. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dairy snacks of different physical forms on short-term food intake (FI), subjective appetite, and the stress hormone, cortisol, in children. Following a repeated-measures crossover design, 40 children aged 9-14 years randomly consumed 1 of 5 isoenergetic (180 kcal) snacks per study session. These snacks included solid (potato chips, cookies, and cheese), semi-solid (Greek yogurt), and fluid (2% fat milk) snacks. FI was measured 120 min after snack consumption. Subjective appetite was measured at 0 (immediately before the snack), 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min. Salivary cortisol (n = 18) was measured after the Greek yogurt and cookie snacks at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min. FI did not differ between snacks (P = 0.15). The Greek yogurt (P < 0.0001) and cheese (P = 0.0009) snacks reduced average appetite compared with the 2% fat milk snack. Salivary cortisol levels were not affected by snack (P = 0.84). This study demonstrates that dairy snacks are as effective as other popular snacks at influencing subsequent FI. However, solid and semi-solid dairy snacks are more effective at repressing subjective appetite than a fluid dairy snack. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02484625). Novelty: Milk, Greek yogurt and cheese have a similar effect on short-term food intake in children as popular potato chips and cookie snacks. Solid, semi-solid and liquid snacks have a similar effect on short-term food intake in children.

Effect of video game playing and a glucose preload on subjective appetite, subjective emotions, and food intake in overweight and obese boys.

Video game playing (VGP) is associated with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). VGP and caloric preloads in the pre-meal environment influence short-term food intake (FI) in healthy-weight children. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of pre-meal VGP and a glucose preload on subjective emotions, subjective appetite, and FI in boys with OW/OB. On 4 separate mornings, boys with OW/OB (n = 22; mean ± SD: age = 11.9 ± 1.6 years; body mass index percentile = 94.3 ± 3.9) participated in 4 test conditions. Two hours after a standardized breakfast, boys consumed equally sweetened preloads (250 mL) of sucralose (0 kcal) or glucose (200 kcal), with or without 30 min of subsequent VGP. Immediately after each test condition, FI was evaluated during an ad libitum pizza meal. Subjective appetite was measured at 0 (baseline), 15, and 30 min. Subjective emotions (aggression, anger, excitement, disappointment, happiness, upset, and frustration) were measured at 0 and 30 min. VGP did not affect FI, but the glucose preload decreased FI compared with the sucralose control (Δ = -103 ± 48 kcal, p < 0.01). However, cumulative FI (preload kcal + meal kcal) was 9% higher after the glucose preload (p < 0.01). Subjective appetite increased with time (p < 0.05) but was not influenced by preload or VGP. Frustration was the only subjective emotion that increased following VGP (p < 0.01). A glucose preload, but not VGP, suppressed FI in boys with OW/OB, suggesting a primary role of physiological factors in short-term FI regulation.

Understanding Age-Related Changes in Skeletal Muscle Metabolism: Differences Between Females and Males.

Skeletal muscle is the largest metabolic organ system in the human body. As such, metabolic dysfunction occurring in skeletal muscle impacts whole-body nutrient homeostasis. Macronutrient metabolism changes within the skeletal muscle with aging, and these changes are associated in part with age-related skeletal muscle remodeling. Moreover, age-related changes in skeletal muscle metabolism are affected differentially between males and females and are likely driven by changes in sex hormones. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors impact observed age-related changes and sex-related differences in skeletal muscle metabolism. Despite some support for sex-specific differences in skeletal muscle metabolism with aging, more research is necessary to identify underlying differences in mechanisms. Understanding sex-specific aging skeletal muscle will assist with the development of therapies to attenuate adverse metabolic and functional outcomes.