Fluid or Fuel? The Context of Consuming a Beverage Is Important for Satiety

Abstract

Energy-containing beverages have a weak effect on satiety, limited by their fluid characteristics and perhaps because they are not considered ‘food’. This study investigated whether the context of consuming a beverage can influence the satiating power of its nutrients. Eighty participants consumed a lower- (LE, 75 kcal) and higher-energy (HE, 272 kcal) version of a beverage (covertly manipulated within-groups) on two test days, in one of four beverage contexts (between-groups): thin versions of the test-drinks were consumed as a thirst-quenching drink (n = 20), a filling snack (n = 20), or without additional information (n = 20). A fourth group consumed subtly thicker versions of the beverages without additional information (n = 20). Lunch intake 60 minutes later depended on the beverage context and energy content (p = 0.030): participants who consumed the thin beverages without additional information ate a similar amount of lunch after the LE and HE versions (LE = 475 kcal, HE = 464 kcal; p = 0.690) as did those participants who believed the beverages were designed to quench-thirst (LE = 442 kcal, HE = 402 kcal; p = 0.213), despite consuming an additional 197 kcal in the HE beverage. Consuming the beverage as a filling snack led participants to consume less at lunch after the HE beverage compared to the LE version (LE = 506 kcal, HE = 437 kcal; p = 0.025). This effect was also seen when the beverages were subtly thicker, with participants in this group displaying the largest response to the beverage’s energy content, consuming less at lunch after the HE version (LE = 552 kcal, HE = 415 kcal; p<0.001). These data indicate that beliefs about the consequences of consuming a beverage can affect the impact of its nutrients on appetite regulation and provide further evidence that a beverage’s sensory characteristics can limit its satiating power.

Optimising foods for satiety

“…This null effect for labelling was interpreted as evidence that sensory markers of satiety are likely to overshadow any labelling effects. McCrickerd et al (2014) examined these ideas further by comparing the effects on satiety of changing expectations, by either providing addition information on the test product (e.g. reduces hunger vs. thirst quenching) or by changing its sensory characteristics (thin vs. thick).…”

Beverage Consumption Patterns at Age 13 to 17 Years Are Associated with Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index at Age 17 Years

“…In addition the physical state (i.e., solid vs. liquid) of food and beverage items is thought to influence satiety with implications for obesity. 10,11 …”

Assimilation of healthy and indulgent impressions from labelling influences fullness but not intake or sensory experience

“…We found subtle evidence of assimilation of label information. Study 1 found that indulgent impressions were partially assimilated, which increased short-term fullness, supporting evidence that cognitive cues can influence appetite [8,10,36]. Congruency between the healthy label and oral experience in study 2 also led to assimilation.…”

“…Several studies have demonstrated that label information can alter sensory and hedonic evaluations, satiation and satiety [8,10,14,16,40]. However, other studies found that labels did not alter the eating experience and that ultimately, foods' actual sensory properties and the post-ingestive experience determined product evaluations and appetite [7,41].…”

“…However, it is unclear whether consumers benefit from these marketing methods. Cognitive and sensory cues influence various dimensions of eating behaviour from initial food choice decisions [2] to sensory evaluation [3,4], intake decisions [5,6] and satiety response [7][8][9][10][11][12]. Thus, it is plausible that marketing healthiness may influence eating behaviour.…”