Eating in the absence of hunger in adolescents: intake after a large-array meal compared with that after a standardized meal

Abstract

Background: Eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) is typically assessed by measuring youths' intake of palatable snack foods after a standard meal designed to reduce hunger. Because energy intake required to reach satiety varies among individuals, a standard meal may not ensure the absence of hunger among participants of all weight strata. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare adolescents' EAH observed after access to a very large food array with EAH observed after a standardized meal. Design: Seventy-eight adolescents participated in a randomized crossover study during which EAH was measured as intake of palatable snacks after ad libitum access to a very large array of lunchtype foods (.10,000 kcal) and after a lunch meal standardized to provide 50% of the daily estimated energy requirements. Results: The adolescents consumed more energy and reported less hunger after the large-array meal than after the standardized meal (P values , 0.001). They consumed '70 kcal less EAH after the large-array meal than after the standardized meal (295 6 18 compared with 365 6 20 kcal; P , 0.001), but EAH intakes after the large-array meal and after the standardized meal were positively correlated (P values , 0.001). The body mass index z score and overweight were positively associated with EAH in both paradigms after age, sex, race, pubertal stage, and meal intake were controlled for (P values 0.05). Conclusion: EAH is observable and positively related to body weight regardless of whether youth eat in the absence of hunger from a very large-array meal or from a standardized meal. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00631644.Am J Clin Nutr 2010;92:697-703.

Decreased rates of operant food self-administration are associated with reward deficits in high-fat feeding mice

“…This is a relevant issue because the role of palatable food as a motivating force able to override homeostatic signals still remains controversial [41][42][43]. Indeed, a profound state of reward hyposensitivity accompanied by compulsive-like eating, as a consequence of over-stimulation of brain reward systems triggered by cafeteria diet, has been reported [44].…”

Mindfulness and laboratory eating behavior in adolescent girls at risk for type 2 diabetes

“…In early studies, youth with obesity ate significantly more when presented with snacks (Costanzo & Woody, 1979) and were more influenced by external cues such as the availability or composition of food (Schachter, 1971; Schachter & Rodin, 1974) than youth who were lean. More recent studies also have demonstrated a positive cross-sectional association between EAH, as assessed by survey and test meal intake, with body mass index (BMI) in adolescents (Fisher et al, 2007; Shomaker et al, 2010). …”

Genetics of Food Intake Self-Regulation in Childhood: Literature Review and Research Opportunities

“…'High' versus 'low' scores were based on median splits at each age, specifically, 49 kcal (age 5 years) and 76 kcal (age 7 years) [21] . EAH was associated with a greater BMI zscore and overweight/obesity status (i.e., not overweight/ obese vs. overweight/obese) among adolescents, even when the ad libitum lunch meal preceding the free-access procedure provided multiple food options comprising more than 10,000 kcal [26] . A recent study of 5-to 9-yearold children that invoked an anticipatory laboratory 82 stressor (i.e., instructing children to deliver a speech and solve math problems) found that children consumed on average 250 kcal in the absence of hunger, with intakes ranging as high as 700 kcal [27] .…”