THE EFFECTS OF ASPARTAME VERSUS SUCROSE ON MOTIVATIONAL RATINGS, TASTE PREFERENCES, AND ENERGY INTAKES IN OBESE AND LEAN

This study examined the effects of four breakfast preloads of differen t sweetness and energy content on motivational ratings, taste preferen ces, and energy intakes of 12 obese and 12 lean women. The preloads co nsisted of creamy white cheese (fromage blanc) and were either plain, sweetened with sucrose or aspartame, or sweetened with aspartame and s upplemented with maltodextrin. Their energy content was either 300 kca l (1,255 kJ) or 700 kcal (2,929 kJ). Motivational ratings of hunger an d the desire to eat were obtained prior to and at 30 min intervals aft er breakfast. Taste preferences were measured prior to and 150 min aft er breakfast. The subjects ate buffet-style lunch, snack, and dinner m eals in the laboratory. Obese women consumed significantly more energy at meals (2,596 kcal or 10,862 kJ) than did lean women (1,484 kcal or 6,209 kJ); derived a greater proportion of energy from fat (39.9% vs. 35.5%), and had lower dietary carbohydrate-to-fat ratios. Consumption of low-energy as opposed to high-energy breakfast preloads was associ ated with elevated motivational ratings by noon. However, energy intak es at lunch, snack, or dinner did not vary as a function of preload ty pe, and no compensation was observed for the energy consumed at breakf ast. Taste preferences were not affected by preload ingestion or by pr eload type. The study provided no evidence that aspartame promotes hun ger or results in increased energy intakes in obese or in lean women.