Food viscosity influences caloric intake compensation and body weight in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of food viscosity on the ability of rats to compensate for calories in a dietary supplement.


METHODS
In a series of four experiments, rats consumed dietary supplements equated for caloric and nutritive content but differing in viscosity. Experiments 1 to 3 examined the ability of the rats to compensate for the calories consumed in low- compared with high-viscosity premeals by reducing intake of a subsequent test meal. Caloric compensation was assessed with a wide range of premeal viscosity levels and with two different non-nutritive thickening agents. Experiment 4 assessed the effects of consuming daily a low-viscosity compared with an equicaloric high-viscosity dietary supplement on longer term body weight gain.


RESULTS
Consuming a lower viscosity premeal was followed by significantly more caloric intake (i.e., less caloric compensation) compared with consuming premeals with higher viscosity levels. This effect was not specific to one thickening agent. Furthermore, rats given a low-viscosity supplement daily gained significantly more weight over a 10-week period compared with rats given a high-viscosity supplement.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of these experiments suggest that food viscosity may be an important determinant of short-term caloric intake and longer term body weight gain.
Davidson
Terry L
TL
Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA. davidson@psych.purdue.edu
Swithers
Susan E
SE
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D005502:Food; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014783:Viscosity; D015430:Weight Gain