Influence of Food Texture on Appetite Control, Gastric Emptying, and Energy Expenditure

Influence of Food Texture on Appetite Control, Gastric Emptying, and Energy Expenditure

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of liquid versus semi-solid meals on the regulation of energy balance in healthy young adults.The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does a protein-rich liquid meal result in less satiety and therefore higher ad libitum energy intake at the next meal than an isocaloric oatmeal with the same macronutrient ratio?
• Is the consumption of a protein-rich liquid meal as a beverage in addition to an ad libitum oatmeal less compensated within the meal and at the next meal and provides thus a higher ad libitum energy intake than an isovolumetric noncaloric soft drink in addition to an ad libitum oatmeal?

Researchers will compare a protein-rich liquid meal to an isocaloric oatmeal with matched macronutrient composition to answer the first question. Researchers will compare a protein-rich liquid meal + oatmeal to a noncaloric softdrink (water with sucralose and flavoring) + oatmeal to answer the second question.

Participants will:

• spend 4 intervention days in a metabolic chamber (whole room indirect calorimeter)
• consume pre-definied preloads for breakfast and ad libitum lunch meals on 4 intervention days

Inclusion Criteria:

• healthy males and females
• Body Mass Index between 19-35 kg/m2
• low to medium habitual physical activity
• women with regular menstrual cycle (during intervention in follicular phase)

Exclusion Criteria:

• smoking (cigarettes + cannabis)
• chronic illnesses
• regular intake of medication
• Anemia and/or iron deficiency
• food allergies / intolerances
• vegans
• regular high physical activity (exercise >1 hour/d)
• current weight loss diet / weight loss of >5 kg in the last 3 months
• restraint eaters (according to the German version of the 'Three-Factor-Eating-Questionnaire', Stunkard und Messick (1985))
• active participation in another trial
• pregnant / lactating women
• persons incapable of giving informed legal consent