Effect of Meal Volume on Hunger and Satiety in Obese Subjects: Volume of meal and satiety

OBJECTIVE: The results of several studies showed that energy density of food affects both satiety and food intake. None of them has checked the influence of energy density variation in solid meals in obese subjects. We examined the effect of meal volume on satiety potency of food and its effect on glucose and insulin profiles in obese subjects. DESIGN: Subjects were served a test meal (milk pudding) equal in energy content and composition (fat, protein, carbohydrate) across two volumes : 250 ml and 500 ml. SUBJECTS: Study group: 22 obese subjects without additional diseases, BMI: 37.9 + 7.1. MEASUREMENTS: The satiety state was assessed on VAS before and after consumption test meal during 180 minutes of observation. During the study every 30 min the blood was taken to determine glucose and insulin profiles. RESULTS: There were no differences in taste assessment of both test foods on VAS scale. Food consumption results in significant reduction of hunger and increase of satiety feelings independently of food volume. The food volume had no important influence on satiety status of study patients during whole study. Only just after ingestion we observed the significant more satiating efficiency of bigger than smaller volume. We didn’t also notice any differences in plasma glucose and insulin levels after ingestion of both food volumes. CONCLUSION: Food volume has only limited influence on satiety state directly after meal consumption but not glucose and insulin plasma concentrations.