Rate of intake, bites, and chews - the interpretation of lean-obese differences

The microstructure of eating behavior reflects physical properties of food. Responses of lean and obese subjects to these physical properties are simi lar. For example, eating smaller bite-sized food units reduces initial inge stion rate and mean and local ingestion rate for the entire meal, but does not affect total intake in either lean or obese women. On the other hand, a nalysis of the microstructure of eating behavior also suggests that obese s ubjects are less hungry and are more motivated by food preferences than lea n subjects. For example, in meals of bite-sized food units, initial ingesti on rate is less affected by deprivation and more affected by food preferenc e in obese than lean women. In buffet meals with a variety of foods, obese men eat dessert earlier in the meal, and eat more dessert and other energy dense foods than lean men. The research reviewed here suggests that treatme nts for obesity should not focus on modifying bite size and ingestion rate and other microstructural variables, which are largely determined by the ph ysical properties of food. Instead, treatment should focus on food selectio n and the stimulatory effects of palatability on intake. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.