Passive overconsumption? Limited evidence of compensation in meal size when consuming foods high in energy density: Two randomised crossover experiments.

Research has drawn contradictory conclusions as to whether humans adjust meal size based on meal energy density (ED) or exhibit 'passive overconsumption'. Recent observational research has suggested that meal EDs greater than 1.7-2 kcal/g are compensated for through consumption of smaller meal sizes. We tested the relationship between ED and meal size by examining energy intake of meals at three levels of ED: low (∼1.0 kcal/g), medium (1.7-2.0 kcal/g) and high (>3.0 kcal/g). Two randomised, crossover experiments were conducted with adult participants. In experiment 1 (n = 34, 62% female, mean age 37.4 years), participants were served a lunch including a familiar low, medium or high ED dessert to eat ad libitum. In experiment 2 (n = 32, 66% female, mean age 36.4 years), participants were served a lunch meal manipulated to be low, medium or high ED to eat ad libitum. For experiment 2, later energy intake (post-meal energy intake) was also measured. In experiment 1, participants consumed a similar amount of energy from the low vs. medium ED food. The high ED food was associated with an increased intake of approximately 240 kcals compared to medium (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 2.31) and low (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 4.42) ED foods. In experiment 2, there were no significant differences in meal size (grams) between ED meals, resulting in a largely linear relationship between meal ED and energy intake across the three ED conditions ('passive overconsumption'). There were no differences in later energy intake between ED conditions. Contrary to recent suggestions, foods higher in ED were not associated with adjustments to meal size and were associated with increased energy intake across two experiments. Reformulation of foods high in ED may be an effective population level approach to reducing energy intake and obesity. Clinical trial registry number: NCT05744050; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05744050.

Influencia del síndrome premenstrual y el uso de anticonceptivos orales en la selección de alimentos durante las fases folicular y lútea del ciclo menstrual / Influence of premenstrual syndrome and oral contraceptive use on food selection during he follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle

Antecedentes y objetivo: La ingesta alimentaria y la motivación por los alimentos varían según las fases del ciclo menstrual. Parece que estos cambios se acentúan en las mujeres que padecen síndrome premenstrual (SPM) y se modifican con el uso de anticonceptivos orales (ACO). Este estudio examina los efectos del ciclo menstrual, el SPM y el uso de ACO en la ingesta y la valoración hedónica de alimentos para picar, dulces y salados. Material y método: Se reclutó a 55 mujeres, a las que se dividió en grupo control y grupo con SPM. Las usuarias de ACO conformaron el grupo de usuarias y las no usuarias conformaron el grupo control. Las participantes fueron evaluadas durante un día de cada fase (folicular y lútea) en el cual se les midió el consumo y el gusto por los alimentos ofrecidos. Resultados: La fase lútea indujo un mayor consumo de calorías provenientes de los dulces. Las participantes con SPM no consumieron una cantidad significativamente mayor en ninguna de las dos fases. Hubo una interacción significativa entre fase, sabor, SPM y uso de ACO. Las usuarias de ACO consumieron más calorías provenientes de dulces en la fase folicular. Conclusiones: La ingesta calórica aumenta durante la fase lútea del ciclo menstrual y tanto el SPM como el uso de ACO modulan dicho efecto. El uso de ACO parece eliminar las fluctuaciones en la ingesta calórica que ocurren normalmente durante el ciclo menstrual (AU)

Background and objective: Food intake and motivation for food varies according to the phase of the menstrual cycle. These changes seem to be more marked in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and may be modified by the use of oral contraceptives (OC). This study examined the effect of menstrual cycle, PMS and OC use on the intake and hedonic rating of sweet and savory snack foods. Material and methods: Fifty-five women were recruited and assigned to either a PMS group or a control group. In addition, based on OC use, the women were assigned to an OC-user or non-user group. During the luteal and follicular phases, the participants were asked to consume and rate sweet and savory snacks. Results: The luteal phase induced greater caloric intake from sweet foods. PMS sufferers did not consume significantly more calories in either phase. There was a significant interaction between phase, flavor, PMS status and OC use. OC users consumed more calories from sweet foods in the follicular phase. Conclusions: Food intake is increased in the luteal phase. This effect was modulated by both PMS and OC use. OC use seems to eliminate cyclic fluctuations in caloric intake (AU)