ENERGY DENSITY OF FOODS AFFECTS ENERGY-INTAKE IN NORMAL-WEIGHT WOMEN

This study examined the effect of energy density, independent of fat c ontent and palatability, on food and energy intakes. With use of a wit hin-subjects design, normal-weight women (n = 18) were provided with m eals for 2 d during each of three test sessions. During lunch, dinner, and an evening snack, subjects were given free access to a main entre e varying in energy density !low, medium, or high). The manipulated ma in entrees were similar in palatability to their counterparts across c onditions. Low-energy compulsory (consumption required) side dishes ac companied each meal. Subjects also consumed a standard, compulsory bre akfast. Results showed that subjects consumed a similar amount of food (by weight) across the three conditions of energy density. Thus, sign ificantly more energy was consumed in the condition of high energy den sity (7532 +/- 363 kJ, or 1800 +/- 86 kcal) than in the medium- (6356 +/- 281 kJ, or 1519 +/- 67 kcal) and low- (5756 +/- 178 kJ, or 1376 +/ - 43 kcal) energy-density conditions (P < 0.0001). There were no diffe rences in hunger or fullness before meals, after meals, or over the 2 d across conditions. The results from this study indicate that energy density affects energy intake independent of macronutrient content or palatability, suggesting that the overconsumption of high-fat foods ma y be due to their high energy density rather than to their fat content .